Florida House could now be quashing proposal to bring back primary runoff elections

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With the 2024 Legislative Session drawing to a close in just over two weeks, the Florida House State Affairs Committee has postponed a bill that would bring back primary runoff elections just days after it was filed.

The move came the morning after Florida’s Voice broke the news that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office had serious concerns regarding the proposal, and was seemingly blindsided by its late filing.

Shortly after, a member of DeSantis’ cabinet, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, concurred with DeSantis’ office that bringing back primary runoffs is a bad idea.

“Nothing about this proposal does right by Florida taxpayers OR protecting the integrity of our elections,” Simpson said Tuesday night.

If approved, the legislation would’ve required candidates in their respective primaries achieve at least 50% of the vote to advance to the general. If not, the top two would have to engage in another primary, and the winner of that runoff could then participate in the general.

Rep. Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, is the chair of the committee that proposed the now-postponed bill.

The next Florida gubernatorial primary election will kick into high gear in 2026, which would have been impacted by the proposal. This could have meant a longer, more arduous, and more expensive process for the eventual candidates if the field is crowded.

Among those previously rumored to be running for Florida governor on the Republican side is Rep. Matt Gaetz. However, on Monday night in response to the primary election change proposal, Gaetz said he has no plans to seek the office and voiced opposition to the primary runoff bill.

“Runoff elections cost taxpayers millions, increase targets for fraudsters and empower establishment candidates over firebrands. They are a bad idea,” Gaetz said. “You guys in Tallahassee didn’t have to do this. I have no plans to run for governor.”

Gaetz won his seat to the U.S. House of Representatives in a crowded primary in 2016, achieving 36.1% of the vote.

“I’ve said for a while – I think I’m exactly where I am supposed to be,” Gaetz said. “That said, it’s nuts to suggest that Florida should change 20 years of election law in 2 weeks with a last minute bill.”