Former Speaker of the Florida House Paul Renner is a Republican candidate for governor of Florida in the 2026 election, who will appear on the ballot in the Republican primary on Aug. 18, 2026.
Renner was a member of the Florida House of Representatives, where he served for nearly a decade. He was first sworn into the Legislature in 2015 and most recently represented House District 19 from Nov. 2022 until leaving office in Nov. 2024.
During his legislative career, Renner held several influential committee positions. He chaired the House Judiciary Committee during the 2019-2020 legislative term and later chaired the House Rules and Ethics Committee during the 2021-2022 term. He also served on the House Budget Committee, the Rules and Ethics Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee.
Renner sponsored legislation covering a broad range of policy areas, including services for people with developmental disabilities, veterans’ education and employment, direct primary care, firearms laws, transportation network companies, health care facilities, growth management and state government operations. Some of his proposals were enacted directly or advanced through companion legislation, including measures involving veterans’ tuition waivers, emergency concealed-carry protections, growth management and the Florida Historic Capitol.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Renner served in the U.S. Navy before beginning his legal and political career. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Davidson College in 1989 and a law degree from the University of Florida in 1994. Outside of elected office, Renner has worked as an attorney.
