Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., is resigning his seat in Congress on Monday to focus on his bid for the Florida governorship, according to three sources familiar with the decision.
DeSantis notified House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Monday morning that he would be leaving Congress, according to a spokesperson for the speaker. In the letter, DeSantis said he thought it would be “inappropriate” for him to receive a congressional salary given the number of missed votes he will likely incur over the next two months ahead of Election Day.
“As the Republican nominee for governor of Florida, it is clear to me that I will likely miss the vast majority of our remaining session days for this Congress,” DeSantis said in the letter. “Under these circumstances, it would be inappropriate for me to accept a salary.”
“In order to honor my principles and protect the taxpayer, I officially resign from the House of Representatives effective immediately,” the congressman wrote. “For purposes of pay, I ask that my resignation be retroactive to September 1 so that I do not receive any pay for the month of September.”
“This is not a decision I make lightly. It has been an honor to serve the people of Florida’s Sixth Congressional District, and I look forward to serving them and the rest of Florida as our state’s next Governor,” DeSantis added.
DeSantis is locked in a tough battle with Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee and a progressive upstart candidate who defeated former Rep. Gwen Graham for the Democratic nod. The conservative House member defeated Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam for the GOP nod.
