Patronis Resigns to Run for Congressional District 1 Seat - Early Endorsement by Trump

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, a Bay County native, has announced his resignation from his position to run for the Congressional District 1 seat, which was recently vacated by Rep. Matt Gaetz. President Donald Trump has given his full endorsement, tweeting, "Should he (Patronis) decide to enter this race, Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and total Endorsement. RUN, JIMMY, RUN!"

Patronis, who has served as CFO since 2017, will officially step down on March 31, 2025, to campaign ahead of the primary election on January 28, 2025, and the general election on April 1, 2025.

Born in Panama City, Florida, Patronis has a long history of public service. After graduating from Florida State University with a degree in political science, Patronis held multiple roles, including appointments to the Florida Elections Commission and as chairman of the Bay County Airport Authority. He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2012, before his appointment as CFO.

During his tenure as CFO, Patronis focused on issues like firefighter cancer relief, insurance reform, and state debt reduction, while also overseeing disaster response efforts, including Florida’s Urban Search and Rescue Teams. "It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as Florida’s CFO for nearly eight years," Patronis said in his resignation statement.

He expressed confidence that under new federal leadership, Florida's progress is just beginning, and he looks forward to continuing his public service in Washington.