**Trump Endorses Jimmy Patronis for Vacant Florida Congressional Seat**

In a bold political move, President-elect Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind Florida's Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, for the congressional seat recently vacated by former Rep. Matt Gaetz. Trump announced his endorsement on social media, urging Patronis to run and signalling potential pressure on Governor Ron DeSantis to align with the President-elect's preferences for other high-profile appointments.

Trump's endorsement comes on the heels of Gaetz’s controversial withdrawal from the attorney general race amid ongoing investigations into his conduct. Although the Department of Justice has decided not to press criminal charges against Gaetz as part of its sex trafficking probe, the political fallout has left a significant vacancy in northwest Florida.

"Should he decide to enter this Race, Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JIMMY, RUN!" Trump posted on Truth Social, affirming his strong support for Patronis. In response, Patronis expressed his readiness to serve, stating, "Put me to work, Mr. President!... I am here to serve."

The timeline is tight for political hopefuls; interested candidates must submit their resign-to-run letters by Monday to maintain their current positions while campaigning for Gaetz's seat. Multiple state legislators and a local official have already declared their intention to run.

If Patronis chooses to run, it will be up to Governor DeSantis to appoint his replacement as the state’s Chief Financial Officer until the 2026 elections. Among the potential candidates for this interim role is State Sen. Joe Gruters, a long-time Trump ally and known critic of DeSantis. Additionally, Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, has expressed interest in the Senate seat currently held by Marco Rubio, should Rubio be confirmed as Secretary of State.

Patronis has served as Florida’s Chief Financial Officer since 2017, a role he was appointed to by former Governor Rick Scott. Despite not residing in Gaetz’s district, Patronis is a familiar and influential figure across the region. Trump’s endorsement of Patronis is his second major intervention in Florida’s congressional races, having recently encouraged state Sen. Randy Fine to run for a northeast Florida congressional seat.

Trump's active involvement in these races reflects his intention to shape the political landscape in Florida, aligning it closely with his administration's agenda, and potentially steering key decisions and appointments for the coming years.