Rep. Daniel Perez designated as next Florida Republican House speaker

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Rep. Daniel Perez, R-Miami, was selected as the Republican house speaker designate for the 2025 and 2026 sessions, set to assume the position in November 2024.

“Danny understands what we do here in a way that’s very special,” said House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast.

“He’s from Miami where you have people from Cuba, Venezuela and other countries who hold freedom a little bit tighter, because they know what it’s like to suddenly lose it,” he added.

Perez said he likes to think that the fear of power is a “distinctly American quality.”

“Our founding fathers understood that man created government to keep ourselves safe,” he said. “But that the authority of that government also poses the greatest risk to our freedom.”

”I believe in limited government because history has taught us what happens when people with power begin to think they know more than the people who give them their power,” he added.

The speaker designate promised that he would “always listen” to the representatives and the concerns of their communities, even if he didn’t always agree with them.

Several legislators spoke in favor of Perez leading up to the designation, including Rep. Lawrence McClure, R-Plant City, and Rep. Josie Tomkow, R-Auburndale.

McClure said that he has witnessed Perez constantly measure progress and “make a game plan” to be certain that the house is successful in the passing of legislation.