By james art 
TALLAHASSEE — Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo has put to rest speculation that he will run for governor in 2026, but said Friday that if he does, he will stick with the party that has been unable to climb out of supermystical status .
Despite the waning political influence of Democrats in deep-red Florida, the former attorney general said he would not consider running as an independent, even after acknowledging non-affiliated voters in the election.
More than 3.7 million Floridians fall into that category, while 4.4 million identify as Democrats and 5.6 million as Republicans, according to Elections Florida.
“It would be easy for me to be a Republican in the state of Florida,” Pizzo told reporters after the Tiger Capital Fund Forum in Tallahassee, where he discussed what’s next for the Legislature and was proud to be labeled a centrist and a moderate.
The South Florida senator blasted Republicans for trying to outmaneuver the mag, but said his party has a “socialism problem.”
“This has traditionally been the party of democratic values, of middle-class working people, trying to deliver equal opportunity but not equal outcomes. So our party, people abuse it on the far left. The law has abused him. They have been in power for 30 years and nobody’s life is that much better. “
Two state lawmakers in the House, Hillary Cassel and Susan Valdez, switched affiliations from Democrat to Republican in December. Democrats are poised to elect leaders in Orlando on Saturday after losing at the polls in November. Pizzo stressed the need to focus on politics.
“I’m not that critical of the party leadership because it’s a job I wouldn’t want right now in this situation,” he said.
Others eyeing a 2026 gubernatorial run include Republicans Matt Gatz and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. Following reports that Gaetz could be running for state office, Pizzo posted on X that he was going to “kick his ass.”
Florida Phoenix is part of the State Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. The Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Molin with questions: [email protected].