I first met Paul Renner in 2022. He was Speaker of the Florida House, and I was pitching an idea most people have never heard of: a sovereign state bank for Florida. Only one state in the union has one, North Dakota. So, I set up an introductory Zoom call with the CEO of the Bank of North Dakota to educate key players on the concept. I brought in CEOs from some of Florida’s largest community banks, several heavy hitters in finance, and, because he was willing to learn, Paul Renner.
He didn’t have to be on that call. A House Speaker’s calendar is a fortress. Paul showed up, listened, asked sharp questions, and treated an obscure policy idea with the seriousness it deserved. That was my first glimpse of the man: intellectually curious, humble enough to learn, and never too important to show up.
Since then, I’ve invited him to meetings on various financial issues. Even after he termed out of his speakership, we kept in touch, lightly but consistently. I’d keep him updated on developments. He was always interested, always respectful, and always encouraging. Not the performative encouragement politicians hand out like candy, but the genuine kind that makes you think, this guy actually believes in what we’re building here.
The Interview That Revealed the Man
When Paul announced his run for governor, I asked if I could interview him for my organization, Floridian Future, where we focus on teaching everyday Floridians how Tallahassee actually works, how legislation moves, how grassroots voices can cut through the noise, and how the process really functions. I wanted the interview from the perspective of his having been Speaker.
And what a speaker he was. Historically one of Florida’s greatest. The interview showcased his encyclopedic knowledge of legislation, his mastery of negotiation, knowing when to take the smaller win to keep the ball moving forward, and his depth of understanding of the law and the Constitution. It also showcased something harder to quantify: his calm and his backbone.
Do not mistake that calm demeanor for weakness. This is a man who stared down the “powers that be” when they threatened to downgrade Florida’s state rating over ESG and DEI non-compliance. He didn’t blink. He stood up to them, and he won.
Twenty years in the military will forge that kind of steel. Paul Renner was a naval commander deployed to combat zones in Operation Desert Storm and Afghanistan, earning the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He doesn’t rattle. He doesn’t posture. He doesn’t need to.
The Part That Didn’t Make the Recording
After we stopped recording, we kept talking for another twenty minutes. That’s where I learned the most impressive thing about Paul Renner.
He is a man of God. Through and through, in every fiber of his being.
His father, a pastor, was very ill. Paul told his dad he wanted to drop out of the governor’s race to spend more time with him. His father said no. “Son, you stay in the race.”
Paul had prayed about running. That’s why he tossed his hat in the ring. He wasn’t chasing ambition—he was answering a call.
He told me about losing a previous race by two votes. Two votes. Here’s the thing about that loss: if he had won, he never would have become Speaker of the House. That’s not coincidence. That’s God.
I asked him about DeSantis’ flippant remark when Paul first announced that Renner had been “misadvised” to run. Paul responded calmly, matter-of-factly. He wasn’t concerned. And since then? DeSantis has praised Paul and his historic two sessions as Speaker.
What really hit me was when Paul said, “Ya know, Saga, at the end of the day, all of this is in God’s hands—come what may.”
His father has since passed away. Paul knows it wasn’t goodbye. It was see you later.
The Record Speaks for Itself
Paul’s campaign isn’t built on smearing opponents. It’s built on his record. And what a record it is:
· Billions in tax cuts—including permanent sales tax exemptions on diapers and baby products
· Billions in government spending cuts
· Lawsuit abuse reform that led to the first insurance premium reductions in 30 years
· The Heartbeat Protection Act — the strongest pro-life legislation in Florida’s history
· Ended transgender surgeries for minors and protected girls’ sports.
· Universal school choice
· Record per-child K-12 funding and record investments in land conservation.
· Major initiatives to stop illegal immigration
· Unprecedented child protections from social media exploitation.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce named him their Most Valuable Legislator. The Florida Fraternal Order of Police endorsed him for governor. He presided over what’s been called the “Session of the Century.”
Nobody in this race can hold a candle to those accomplishments. Nobody.
The Calm That Captivates
As the campaign heats up with temperatures rising on all fronts, propaganda flying, and pundits lying, Paul Renner walks steadily forward. He may not be the most charismatic. His campaign might seem a bit vanilla to some. The odds are stacked against him, going up against tens of millions of dollars and candidates who speak a good game but don’t have the experience to back it up.
He’s not someone who just tacks “God bless” onto the end of a speech and calls it a day. He’s a man who lives his conviction to Jesus with his whole heart. That calmness has captivated me because it’s not passivity. It’s a man who has been tried, tested, and proven, walking forward with a confidence rooted in something unshakable.
That’s who I want leading the great State of Florida.
Calm. Confident. Tried. Tested. Proven. A true, unmatched strength of spirit—leaning on and trusting God’s plan.
Paul Renner will protect Florida from the ever-growing threats coming our way. He is not only the adult in the room. He is the only one with the mix of faith, backbone, knowledge, and experience to lead.
Saga is the founder of Floridian Future, an organization dedicated to educating Floridians on the legislative process and making grassroots voices more effective in Tallahassee.
Related:
“Why I’m Voting for James Fishback to Replace Ron DeSantis“
“Four Republicans Want to Be Your Governor. Only One Earned It“