Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who withdrew his nomination as attorney general from newly elected President Donald Trump, said he will not return to Congress next year.
“I’m still going to compete, but it will be from a new place. I have no plans to run for the 119th Congress,” Gaetz told conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Friday.
It was not clear whether Gaetz, even if he had wanted to, would have been able to rejoin Congress to serve out the term he won earlier this month.
Gaetz resigned from Congress last Wednesday, the same day Trump announced him as his pick to oversee the Justice Department. Gaetz’s resignation came as the House of Representatives Ethics Committee was set to release a report on its investigation into alleged illegal drug use and sexual misconduct, which Gaetz has denied.
With Gaetz no longer a member, the commission was at an impasse this week over whether to release its findings.
Gaetz has options to continue his political career in Florida. Senator Marco Rubio will likely vacate his seat as Trump’s pick for secretary of state, giving Florida Governor Ron DeSantis the freedom to appoint a replacement to fill out the final two years of Rubio’s term. DeSantis himself also has a term limit in 2026.
