Former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-Fla.) political future is up in the air following his announcement that he is taking his name out of the running to be attorney general in the Trump administration.
Gaetz was under intense scrutiny over past investigations by the Justice Department (DOJ) and the House Ethics Committee. The DOJ was investigating Gaetz as a part of a broad sex trafficking probe, including allegations involving underage women, though it declined to file charges. Gaetz has vigorously denied those accusations. The former congressman was also the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged sexual misconduct and drug use.
“While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz wrote on social platform X.
Here are five possibilities for what could come next for Gaetz.
Another role in Trump administration
While Gaetz took himself out of the running to be attorney general, Trump still could appoint him to an administration post, in the White House or elsewhere, that would not require a Senate confirmation hearing.
By choosing Gaetz, Trump would have a high-profile defender in his administration without having to go through a messy confirmation process. Senate Republicans were warning that confirmation hearings on Gaetz would be like “Kavanaugh on steroids,” referring to the hearings for now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.
If Gaetz were to take on another role in the Trump administration, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) would have to set a date for a special election for Gaetz’s seat in the state’s 1st Congressional District.
DeSantis has already instructed the secretary of state to set a schedule for the special election, but a date has not yet been determined. The first district is a red seat and would likely see a competitive Republican primary. A number of Republicans have already lined up to run in the special election for Gaetz’s seat.
Gubernatorial run
Gaetz has been among the Republicans floated to run for governor once DeSantis’s term ends in 2026.
But a gubernatorial run for Gaetz would come with baggage.
“Gaetz is damaged goods and donors should line up behind someone else,” said Dan Eberhart, a Florida-based Republican donor.
“It’s time for Gaetz to practice law,” he added.
A gubernatorial run, however, could still prompt problems for Gaetz up on Capitol Hill. One House Republican, who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive topic, said there would likely still be a push for more information regarding the allegations against Gaetz, including the Ethics report.
“If he puts himself out there to run for governor, which is kind of the one everyone seems to think he’s gonna run for, I do think that if not this report, at least some information needs to come out because people need to know who they’re electing,” the lawmaker said.
Reps. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) and Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) were also floated for the position, but with Waltz being appointed to serve as Trump’s national security adviser, Gaetz would likely face off against Donalds in a primary.
“Right now, the best-positioned person to be the next governor of Florida is Byron Donalds,” said Ford O’Connell, a Florida-based GOP strategist.
Return to House of Representatives
Gaetz resigned his seat for the current 118th Congress, but his resignation letter left some wiggle room for Gaetz to return for the 119th Congress that starts on Jan. 3, since he was reelected to the seat.
“I do not intend to take the oath of office for the same office in the 119th Congress to pursue the position of Attorney General in the Trump Administration,” Gaetz wrote in his letter.
Now that he is no longer pursuing the attorney general position, his intentions may change.
It is unclear whether Gaetz could return unilaterally, but some congressional sources believe he can. If not, Gaetz has easily won reelection, and could likely win a special election.
Of course, Gaetz may not even want to return to the House. His wife, Ginger Gaetz, re-posted his statement on X about withdrawing from attorney general consideration with a photo of the two on the Capitol steps that was captioned: “The end of an era.”
Being in the House would also mean that the House Ethics Committee would again have jurisdiction over him — and nullifying thorny questions about whether it is appropriate to release a report on a former member. The panel investigated Gaetz on and off for years over allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use and other matters. Gaetz has vigorously denied the allegations, and the Department of Justice declined to charge him after investigating related matters.
Several House Republicans do not want to see Gaetz, who threw the House into chaos when he voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), back in the halls.
“No one wants him back,” one House Republican told The Hill with a chuckle. “I think that he can get sworn in, I mean he was elected by his district, he has every right. So, I don’t think we could stop him. But he’s not loved, that’s for sure.”
“A collective good riddance from many right-of-center members!” another House Republican told The Hill in reaction to Gaetz’s withdrawal.
Media career
While there are several paths Gaetz could pursue in government and politics, the Florida Republican could also take a stab at a career in media — an industry in which he already has experience.
Gaetz has been a regular presence on TV and other media for years, vigorously defending Trump.
In 2021, Gaetz started his own show: the “Firebrand” podcast, where he gives a “behind-the-scenes look into the Swamp of Washington without the spin of Fake News and Deep State influence,” according to the show’s description. According to YouTube, he just published his 173rd episode.
Gaetz has also occasionally found himself sitting at the anchor desk at other conservative outlets. He has guest-hosted former Trump adviser Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, and been a fill-in host on Newsmax.
When discussing his appointment to be attorney general, Newsmax host Greg Kelly referenced the Florida Republican’s time holding down the fort for shows on the network.
“Matt Gaetz is a special guy. He’s incredibly smart, eloquent, bold, unafraid. He’s also the occasional fill-in host on this program. No kidding,” Kelly said, adding: “I am so honored that we gave him his start, didn’t we? No. Matt Gaetz flattered us with his services here at Newsmax, and he is unafraid. And he knows his stuff when he takes on the swamp.”
One close media-watcher is predicting that Gaetz will land at a Newsmax anchor desk when all is said and done.
“I’m guessing Matt Gaetz ends up as a Newsmax host,” Aaron Rupar wrote on X.
Appointment to Senate
Shortly after Gaetz took his name out of the ring to be attorney general, some floated the possibility that Gaetz could fill Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) seat in the Senate after Rubio is confirmed as secretary of State.
The two are former colleagues in the House, and Gaetz helped prepare DeSantis in debate preparation when he first ran for governor in 2018.
But the two were on different sides in the 2024 primary. Gaetz backed Trump in the Republican presidential primary last year shortly before DeSantis challenged Trump.
The decision on who will fill Rubio’s seat lies with DeSantis, and Gaetz has not been among the names floated for the position. DeSantis is said to be considering his chief of staff James Uthmeier, state Lieutenant Gov. Jeannette Nunez and state Attorney General Ashley Moody.
Lara Trump, the president-elect’s daughter-in-law, has been floated by a number of prominent lawmakers and has expressed interest in the position. A scenario in which DeSantis appoints her to the Senate could be viewed as an olive branch to the president-elect.
There would be another chance at the Senate in 2026 when the special election for Rubio’s seat is held, but that scenario seems like it would present the same challenges that a statewide run for governor would.
“He’s toxic for the same reasons,” Eberhart said, when asked about the possibility of Gaetz going for the Senate seat. “If he wants back in, he’s gonna need to run on his own.”
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