President-elect Donald Trump recently encouraged Jimmy Patronis, the former Florida chief financial officer, to run for the vacant U.S. Rep. seat left by Matt Gaetz. Patronis, 52, has a long history in Florida politics, serving as a state legislator, on various state commissions, and as CFO since 2017. He has a background in restaurant management and has been a close ally to former Gov. Rick Scott.
While Patronis has faced accusations of ‘pay to play’ and corruption in the past, these claims were dismissed due to a lack of evidence. He has also been criticized for supporting laws that make it harder to sue insurance companies, leading some to believe he is too aligned with the insurance industry.
One controversial incident involved Farmers Insurance leaving Florida, leaving policyholders in a difficult position. Patronis accused the company of leaving due to its focus on “sustainable insurance” and environmental, social, and governance investing principles, which has become a target for some Republicans. He likened Farmers Insurance’s actions to becoming the “Bud Light of insurance” in response to its alleged political motivations.
Overall, Jimmy Patronis has a long and varied history in Florida politics, with ties to former Governor Rick Scott and controversial stances on issues related to insurance companies. As he launches his campaign for Congress, he will likely face scrutiny and debate over his past actions and connections.
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