TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Paul Renner announced Wednesday that he will run for governor in the 2026 election.
“I’ll be running as a pro-Trump, pro-DeSantis candidate, and looking at who can lead for the next four years,” he told Spectrum News Tuesday, ahead of his official announcement.
Renner, 58, served as speaker from 2022-24.
He was in office as a state representative for the 19th District — which includes Flagler County and parts of lower St. Johns County — from an April 2015 special election through November 2024.
“As a legislator and Speaker of the House, I stood with Ron DeSantis to brand our state the Free State of Florida,” Renner said in his Wednesday announcement. “I’m running for Governor so that when the DeSantis era comes to an end, we can defend our victories and solve the challenges that remain.”
Renner served 20 years as a officer in the Navy, and was deployed in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm and in Afghanistan. He began his legal career as a prosecutor and currently serves on the State University System Board of Governors. Renner and his wife, Adriana, live in Palm Coast, where they are raising their two children.
Renner’s statement Wednesday described him as a defender of constitutional rights, a strong supporter of educational freedom and a supporter of public safety and the rule of law.
“As the son of a minister and a teacher, I learned the most important things in life are faith in God, your family, and honesty and hard work,” Renner said. “From years in the military, I also carry with me the veteran values of the men and women with whom I served, including: a deep love of country, a belief in service above self, and the determination to never quit until your mission is achieved.”
Spectrum News Staff
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