changing his voter registration <\/a>from no-party affiliation to Democrat. Jolly also announced he was starting a political committee \u2014 one that could use the fundraising to pave the way for a 2026 gubernatorial run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n“I am very close to announcing a gubernatorial run,\u201d Jolly said when asked to comment on Pizzo\u2019s move. \u201cIn order to win Florida, the 2026 Democratic nominee will need to genuinely unify and inspire a coalition of Democrats, independents, and common sense Republicans. I am committed to doing my part as a Florida Democrat.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pizzo had been seen as a centrist Democrat whose background as a former prosecutor sometimes brought him into alignment with Republicans. But he also has a caustic and biting wit and was prone to deeply sarcastic remarks in debate. Just earlier this week, he clashed with the powerful state Senate Rules Chair, who bristled at his line of questioning in a committee meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, Pizzo usually sided with Democrats in the most visible partisan battles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pizzo\u2019s financial disclosure shows he has a net worth of $59 million, more than half of which comes from the estate of his father, a developer who passed away in 2021 . That fortune could help in self-funding a run for statewide office, though it\u2019s nowhere near the wealth of former Gov. Rick Scott, now a U.S. senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A run for governor would also risk creating a spoiler ticket, virtually guaranteeing victory for the eventual Republican nominee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tallahassee insiders have been talking about whether Pizzo may seek the job of Florida attorney general instead. Pizzo has previously expressed interest in trying to run against former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who hasn\u2019t publicly ruled out a run for state attorney general or governor \u2014 though President Donald Trump has endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds in the gubernatorial race. Pizzo declined to speak with reporters as he left the state Senate floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
News of the departure was not received well by the Florida Democratic Party, who accused Pizzo of constantly disparaging the party and getting in fights with other members. Chair Nikki Fried called him \u201cone of the most ineffective and unpopular Democratic leaders in recent memory\u201d and said his exit was \u201cone of the best things to happen to the party in years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She also accused Pizzo of trying to build support within the party to run for governor \u2014 though he\u2019d told POLITICO this week that he wouldn\u2019t make a decision about the race until September. A day earlier, Fried had welcomed Jolly to the party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d be lying if I said I\u2019m sad to see him go, but I wish him the best of luck in the political wilderness he\u2019s created for himself,\u201d Fried said. \u201cThe Florida Democratic Party is more united without him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
State House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell likewise accused Pizzo of being \u201ccompletely distracted by his ambition to be governor\u201d and said he had been \u201calienating himself from the Democratic Party for a long time now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDemocrats who aren\u2019t focused entirely on building a party to stop Donald Trump\u2019s dangerous chaos should get out of the way,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some Democrats in the Legislature were more magnanimous toward Pizzo. \u201cHe just wants to be free,\u201dstate Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith said. \u201cI mean, as far as the Democrats are concerned \u2026 we’re currently in a refocusing phase. I don’t want to say we’re dead. I will say that the Democrats have a lot of work to do and I won’t sit here and sugar coat that at all,\u201d state Sen. Shevrin Jones (D-Miami Gardens) said. \u201cThere’s a great deal of work that needs to happen. \u2026 Everyone’s grown enough to make their own decision, and they have to deal with what their [constituents] within their district. I just hope that they maintain their values in which they live by, the same thing for Senator Pizzo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe is certainly independent and he did what he felt was right for himself,\u201d state Sen. Lori Berman (D-Boynton Beach) said. \u201cAnd like Sen. Jones said, I think he’s not going to become a far right-wing Republican by any means, and he will continue to be an effective voice here in the Florida legislature, and hopefully a voice of reason as he has been.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the Senate adjourned, the Democratic caucus convened and unanimously elected Berman as the new Democratic leader. Berman said she and her colleagues are \u201cgoing to finish strong,\u201d as Senate President Ben Albritton congratulated Berman shortly after the vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Democratic feelings throughout Florida remained raw. Former DNC member Nikki Barnes blasted Pizzo on X Wednesday night after he made the “suck it” remark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Black Miami is now against you and within a few days all the Black influential organizers will be on the same page across the entire state,” she wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“NO DEMOCRAT in Florida can win a statewide primary without Black voters. It\u2019s over for you.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After he made the announcement Thursday that he’s leaving the party, Barnes wrote, “Don\u2019t let the door hit you in your racist ass @senpizzo!!!!”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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