Jimmy Patronis

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Jimmy Patronis

| image = Jimmy Patronis, official portrait (119th Congress).jpg

| state = Florida

| district = {{ushr|FL|1|1st}}

| term_start = April 2, 2025

| term_end =

| predecessor = Matt Gaetz

| successor =

| office1 = 4th Chief Financial Officer of Florida

| governor1 = Rick Scott
Ron DeSantis

| term_start1 = June 30, 2017

| term_end1 = March 31, 2025

| predecessor1 = Jeff Atwater

| successor1 = Vacant

| office2 = Member of the Florida Public Service Commission

| appointed2 = Rick Scott

| term_start2 = January 2, 2015

| term_end2 = June 25, 2017

| predecessor2 = Eduardo Balbis

| successor2 = Gary Clark

| state_house3 = Florida

| district3 = 6th

| term_start3 = November 7, 2006

| term_end3 = November 4, 2014

| predecessor3 = Allan Bense

| successor3 = Jay Trumbull

| birth_name = Jimmy Theo Patronis Jr.

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|4|13}}

| birth_place = Panama City, Florida, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| spouse = Katie Patronis

| children = 2

| education = Gulf Coast State College (AS)
Florida State University (BS)

| website = {{url|patronis.house.gov|House website}}

| caption = Official portrait, 2025

}}

Jimmy Theo Patronis Jr. ({{IPAc-en|p|ə|t|r|oʊ|n|ɪ|s}} {{respell|pə|TROH|nis}}; born April 13, 1972) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 1st congressional district since April 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the fourth chief financial officer of Florida from 2017 to 2025. He previously served as a member of the Florida Public Service Commission from 2015 to 2017; a member of the Florida House of Representatives representing the 6th district, which includes Panama City and other parts of southern Bay County, from 2006 to 2014; and as a member of the Florida Elections Commission from 1998 to 2003.[http://www.psc.state.fl.us/Files/PDF/Publications/About/Commissioner_History.pdf FPSC Commissioner History]{{cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Jimmy_Patronis |title=Jimmy Patronis}}{{cite web |url=https://www.radeylaw.com/2017/09/19/appointments-made-florida-public-service-commission |title=Appointments Made to Florida Public Service Commission |date=19 September 2017}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4369&SessionId=75|title=Jimmy Patronis - 2018 - 2020 ( Speaker Oliva )|website=www.myfloridahouse.gov|access-date=2019-03-15}}

Early life and education

Patronis was born in Panama City, Florida, on April 13, 1972, of Greek descent. Patronis attended Gulf Coast Community College, where he graduated with his associate degree in restaurant management in 1994, and Florida State University, where he graduated with his bachelor degree in political science in 1996.{{Cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/|title=The Voter's Self Defense System |website=Vote Smart|access-date=2019-03-15}} While at Florida State University, Patronis worked as an intern in the Florida Senate and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.{{Cite web |url=https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/cfo/ |title=Chief Financial Officer|website=www.myfloridacfo.com|access-date=2019-03-15}}

Early career

After graduation, in 1998, he was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to the Florida Elections Commission and again in 2001 by Governor Jeb Bush where he served until 2003. Patronis also served as chairman of the Bay County Airport Authority from 2004 to 2006.{{Cite web|url=https://joinjimmy.com/about/|title=Meet Jimmy|website=Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis|access-date=2019-03-15}}

=Florida House of Representatives=

File:Jimmy Patronis and Charlie Crist.jpg, 2008]]

Due to term limits, Allan Bense, the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, could not seek re-election in 2006.{{cite web |last1=Bridges |first1=C. A. |title=Who is Jimmy Patronis? What to know about Trump's pick to replace Matt Gaetz |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/27/trump-endorses-florida-cfo-jimmy-patronis-matt-gaetz/76614704007/ |website=Tallahassee Democrat |access-date=29 January 2025}} Patronis ran to succeed him in the 6th district, which included Gulf County, southern Bay County, and western Franklin County. Patronis won the Republican primary with 39% of the vote, defeating Lee Sullivan, Cameron Floyd Skinner, and Bill Fisher. In the general election, Patronis defeated Democratic nominee Janice Lucas with 67% of the vote. He was re-elected without opposition in 2008. In 2010, he defeated Democratic nominee John McDonald with 78% of the vote.

In 2012, following the reconfiguration of districts, Patronis remained in the 6th District, but it swapped its portions in Franklin County and Gulf County for a further incursion into Bay County. He was unopposed in both the primary and general elections, and thus was re-elected again unopposed. Patronis could not run for the Florida House again after 2012 due to term limits.

=Florida Public Service Commission=

In 2015, Patronis was appointed to the Florida Public Service Commission by Governor Rick Scott for a four-year term.{{Cite web|url=http://www.psc.state.fl.us/AboutPSC/Commissioners?name=patronis|title=- Florida Public Service Commission|website=www.psc.state.fl.us|access-date=2019-03-15}} He resigned from the commission on June 25, 2017, upon his announcement as Chief Financial Officer of Florida.{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2017/08/16/patronis-to-open-political-committee-as-he-mulls-reelection-bid-113968|title=Patronis to open political committee as he mulls reelection bid |last=Dixon|first=Matt|work=Politico|date=16 August 2017 |language=en|access-date=2024-12-11}}

Chief Financial Officer of Florida

File:Ceremonial Cabinet Meeting.jpg meeting, May 2019]]

On February 10, 2017, Florida's chief financial officer, Jeff Atwater, announced that he would resign in order to take the position of CFO for Florida Atlantic University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article131953234.html|title=Jeff Atwater, Florida's CFO, to resign for job at Florida Atlantic University |website=miamiherald|access-date=2019-03-15}} Governor Scott officially announced the appointment of Patronis on June 25, 2017. Patronis was officially sworn in to complete Atwater's term on June 30, 2017.{{Cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/rick-scott-appoints-my-friend-jimmy-patronis-as-florida-cfo/2328493 |title=Rick Scott appoints longtime ally Jimmy Patronis as Florida CFO|date=2017-06-26|website=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=2019-03-15}}

Patronis ran for his first full term in the 2018 CFO election. Patronis was unopposed in the Republican primary. The Democratic nominee was former state senator Jeremy Ring of Broward County. Though Patronis and Ring did not debate on stage, the race was noted for its acrimony, with much attention being drawn to Ring's resume at Yahoo! and Patronis' close ties with Governor Scott. Despite Ring going into election day with a 5-point lead in polling, Patronis defeated Ring, receiving 52% of the vote to Ring's 48%.{{Cite news |url=https://www.wlrn.org/post/jimmy-patronis-wins-full-term-floridas-cfo|title=Jimmy Patronis Wins Full Term As Florida's CFO |last=Florida|first=News Service of|work=WLRN-FM|date=7 November 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-15}}

During the 2019 legislative session, Patronis worked to pass the firefighter cancer relief bill to provide protection and financial coverage to firefighters who are diagnosed with certain types of cancers.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=28 March 2019 |title=Battle after the blaze: State officials weigh in on firefighter cancer bill |url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/politics/battle-after-the-blaze-state-officials-weigh-in-on-firefighter-cancer-bill/67-0a6d838c-7e37-41d3-afe2-21c442a3c6df |access-date=2019-03-28 |website=WSTP |language=en}} Patronis’ Political Action Committee, Treasure Florida,File:Rick Scott, Ashley Moody, Chad Chronister, Jimmy Patronis, Anna Paulina Luna, and Laurel Lee during Hurricane Milton.jpg Rick Scott, then-Attorney General Ashley Moody, Hillsborough County sheriff Chad Chronister, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, and Congresswoman Laurel Lee in the Hillsborough County, Florida, Emergency Operations Center, responding to Hurricane Milton]]

In response to former president Donald Trump's indictments, Patronis promoted a plan to provide up to $5 million in taxpayer funds to Trump to pay his legal bills.{{Cite web |last=Bridges |first=C. A. |title=Who is Jimmy Patronis? What to know about Trump’s pick to replace Matt Gaetz |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/27/trump-endorses-florida-cfo-jimmy-patronis-matt-gaetz/76614704007/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Tallahassee Democrat |language=en-US}} A bill was filed to enact this proposal by state senator Ileana Garcia, but was withdrawn after a veto threat by Governor Ron DeSantis.{{Cite news |date=January 22, 2024 |title=DeSantis nixes Florida Republican's plan to help pay Trump legal fees |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/01/22/desantis-trump-patronis-legal-fees/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240123042528/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/01/22/desantis-trump-patronis-legal-fees/ |archive-date=23 Jan 2024 |access-date=23 Jan 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{Cite news |last=Girod |first=Brandon |date=November 8, 2023 |title=Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis wants new law to help fund legal defense of presidential candidates |url=https://www.pnj.com/story/news/politics/2023/11/08/florida-cfo-patronis-wants-taxpayers-to-pay-for-trumps-legal-fees/71493849007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241130133301/https://www.pnj.com/story/news/politics/2023/11/08/florida-cfo-patronis-wants-taxpayers-to-pay-for-trumps-legal-fees/71493849007/ |archive-date=30 Nov 2024 |access-date=30 Nov 2024 |website=Pensacola News Journal}}{{Cite news |last=Fineout |first=Gary |date=January 22, 2024 |title=Florida plan to have taxpayers pay Trump's legal bills nixed after DeSantis veto threat |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/22/florida-trump-legal-bills-00136984 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240123015342/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/22/florida-trump-legal-bills-00136984 |archive-date=23 Jan 2024 |access-date=23 Jan 2024 |website=Politico}}

Due to Florida's resign-to-run law, after announcing his candidacy for Congress, Patronis submitted his resignation as chief financial officer of Florida effective March 31, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Ogles |first=Jacob |date=2024-11-25 |title=Jimmy Patronis officially resigns as Chief Financial Officer |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/709566-jimmy-patronis-officially-resigns-as-chief-financial-officer/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=Florida Politics |language=en-US}}

Pay to play accusations

Patronis has been involved in several "pay to play" contribution controversies in his political career. Between 2017-2018, Patronis’ Political Action Committee, Treasure Florida,{{Cite web |title=Committee Tracking system - Florida Division of Elections - Department of State |url=https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/committees/ComDetail.asp?account=70031 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=dos.elections.myflorida.com}} accepted tens of thousands in political contributions from two Florida-based insurance companies, Simple Health and Health Benefits One, that were legally accused of fraud earlier that year.{{Cite web |last=Hauserman |first=Julie |date=2018-11-02 |title=Chief Financial Officer Patronis took campaign cash from insurance companies shut down Friday for suspected consumer fraud • Florida Phoenix |url=https://floridaphoenix.com/2018/11/02/chief-financial-officer-patronis-took-campaign-cash-from-insurance-companies-shut-down-friday-for-suspected-consumer-fraud/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Florida Phoenix |language=en-US}} Despite warnings from the Nebraska’s attorney general’s office issued in July 2017 on suspected fraudulent business practices, Patronis accepted $35,000 donation from Simple Health on December 20, 2017, and a second contribution of $15,000 on May 31, 2018.{{Cite web |date=2018-11-02 |title=FTC Halts Purveyors of Sham Health Insurance Plans |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2018/11/ftc-halts-purveyors-sham-health-insurance-plans |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Federal Trade Commission |language=en}} Patronis also accepted a $10,000 donation from Health Benefits One in July 2018.{{Cite web |last=Hauserman |first=Julie |last2= |first2= |last3= |title=Patronis campaign says they didn't know about suspected fleecing of consumers from campaign donor, here are documents showing that's highly unlikely • Florida Phoenix |url=https://floridaphoenix.com/briefs/patronis-campaign-says-they-didnt-know-about-suspected-fleecing-of-consumers-from-campaign-donor-here-are-documents-showing-thats-highly-unlikely/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Florida Phoenix |language=en-US}} In November 2018, Patronis spokeswoman Katie Stickland said the campaign didn’t know about the alleged fraud and would donate the money to charity, however, Patronis’s own state Division of Financial Services has been investigating both insurance operation for years for allegedly fleecing consumers. (Update: In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission obtained a $195 million judgment against Simple Health for selling sham health insurance).{{Cite web |date=2024-02-09 |title=FTC Obtains $195 Million Judgment, Permanent Ban on Telemarketing and Selling Healthcare Products Against Simple Health Over Charges It Sold Sham Health Insurance |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/02/ftc-obtains-195-million-judgment-permanent-ban-telemarketing-selling-healthcare-products-against |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Federal Trade Commission |language=en}}

In 2018, Florida commissioner of financial regulation Drew Breakspear was forced out of office by Patronis after Patronis accepted a $25,000 campaign contribution from a Miami financial advisor who was upset that Breakspear refused to remove customer complaints from his file.{{Cite web |last=Bridges |first=C. A. |title=Who is Jimmy Patronis? What to know about Trump’s pick to replace Matt Gaetz |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/27/trump-endorses-florida-cfo-jimmy-patronis-matt-gaetz/76614704007/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Tallahassee Democrat |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Matt |date=2019-07-22 |title=Former OFR chief: ‘We got pressure to drop’ case involving Patronis donor |url=https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2019/07/22/former-ofr-chief-we-got-pressure-to-drop-case-involving-patronis-donor-1114109 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=POLITICO |language=en}} Patronis denied the $25,000 contribution was a motive for the firing.

In 2019, Florida’s top financial regulator, Ronald Rubin, filed a lawsuit accusing CFO Jimmy Patronis and lobbyist R. Paul Mitchell of orchestrating a “pay-to-play” scheme{{cite web |last1=Dixon |first1=Matt |title=Rubin alleges 'pay-to-play' conspiracy in lawsuit |url=https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2019/06/24/rubin-alleges-pay-to-play-conspiracy-in-lawsuit-1072183 |website=Politico.com |access-date=28 March 2025}} to solicit $1 million in campaign contributions from Rubin’s father, a wealthy New York investor. Rubin alleged that Mitchell repeatedly called him, implying that Patronis expected the donation in exchange for keeping Rubin in his position. After Rubin refused, he claimed the two conspired to force him out using a sexual harassment allegation as a pretext—one Rubin said was never properly investigated. He was placed on administrative leave and later terminated, prompting Rubin to request a criminal investigation into Patronis’s conduct.

In December 2019, Florida paid $150,000 to settle a harassment complaint filed by a former Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) employee against then-Commissioner Ronald Rubin.{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Matt |date=2020-01-10 |title=Florida settles Rubin harassment complaint as fight with Patronis intensifies |url=https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2020/01/10/florida-settles-rubin-harassment-complaint-as-fight-with-patronis-intensifies-1249211 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=POLITICO |language=en}} The settlement, referring to the employee as "Jane Doe," denied any wrongdoing by OFR. Shortly after, Rubin amended a lawsuit alleging that state CFO Jimmy Patronis misrepresented employee complaints to facilitate Rubin's termination. Rubin contends that Patronis labeled at least one complaint as "sexual harassment" and withheld key details from Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet, leading to Rubin's dismissal in July 2019. Patronis's office disputes these claims, labeling them as misleading and false.{{cite web |last1=Dixon |first1=Matt |title=Politico.com |url=https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2020/01/10/florida-settles-rubin-harassment-complaint-as-fight-with-patronis-intensifies-1249211 |website=Politico |access-date=28 March 2025}}

U.S. House of Representatives

= 2025 U.S. House campaign =

{{main|2025 Florida's 1st congressional district special election}}

File:Mike Johnson swears in Jimmy Patronis (2025).jpg

Upon the re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, Congressman Matt Gaetz was nominated to become United States attorney general.{{cite news |last=Reilly |first=Ryan J. |date=November 13, 2024 |title=Trump announces Matt Gaetz as his pick for attorney general |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/trump-announces-matt-gaetz-pick-attorney-general-rcna180042 |accessdate=November 13, 2024 |work=NBCNews.com}} Gaetz resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives shortly after the announcement, triggering a special election in Florida's 1st congressional district.{{cite news |last1=Schnell |first1=Mychael |date=November 13, 2024 |title=Gaetz resigns from Congress after AG nod |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4989579-matt-gaetz-resigns-attorney-general/ |access-date=November 13, 2024 |work=The Hill}} On November 25, 2024, Patronis declared his candidacy for the United States Congress and was endorsed by then-President-elect Donald Trump.{{cite web |last1=Jaramillo |first1=Alejandra |title=Trump endorses Jimmy Patronis to fill Gaetz's seat in the House|url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-transition-news-11-25-24#cm3x87d7h000z3b6nbs3akecr |publisher=CNN |access-date=25 November 2024 |date=25 November 2024}}

Patronis defeated Democratic nominee Gay Valimont in the special election.{{Cite web |last=Manchester |first=Julia |date=2025-04-01 |title=Republican Jimmy Patronis wins special election for Gaetz’s Florida seat |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5226177-florida-chief-financial-officer-jimmy-patronis/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |newspaper=The Hill |language=en-US}} During the campaign, Valimont outraised Patronis 3-to-1 in contributions.

= Tenure =

On April 2, 2025, Patronis was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives by Speaker Mike Johnson.{{Cite web |last=Manchester |first=Julia |date=2025-04-02 |title=Fine, Patronis sworn in after special Florida election, boosting thin GOP House majority |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5229079-fine-patronis-sworn-in-house/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |newspaper=The Hill |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2025-04-02 |title=Videos |url=https://www.fox35orlando.com/video/1618614 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=FOX 35 Orlando |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Patronis and his family have run Captain Anderson's, a historic seafood restaurant in Panama City, for over 50 years. He is currently a partner in the business.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

Patronis met his wife Katie in 1998 when her uncle, a family friend, introduced them at Captain Anderson's. They were married in 2006 and have two children. She currently works as a real estate agent in Panama City.{{Cite web |last=Bridges |first=C.A. |title=Who is Jimmy Patronis? What to know about Trump's pick to replace Matt Gaetz |url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/10/11/patronis-talks-wifes-battle-with-cancer-hurricane-michaels-wrath-on-his-hometown/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Tallahassee Democrat}}

Patronis is an Eastern Orthodox Christian. He is a lifelong member to St. John's Greek Orthodox Church in Panama City, Florida.{{cite web |title=Jimmy Patronis |url=https://content.naic.org/node/7820 |website=content.naic.org |access-date=2 April 2025 |language=en}}

Notes

References

External links

[https://www.patronis.house.gov Congressman Jimmy Patronis] official U.S. House website
[http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4369&SessionId=75 Florida House of Representatives - Jimmy Patronis]

{{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for Chief Financial Officer of Florida|years=2018, 2022}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chief Financial Officer of Florida|years=2017–2025}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 1st congressional district|years=2025–present}}

{{s-ttl|title=United States representatives by seniority|years=433rd}}

{{USCongRep-start |congresses=119th–present United States Congresses |state=Florida}}

Category:1972 births

Category:2024 United States presidential electors

Category:21st-century members of the Florida Legislature

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives

Category:American people of Greek descent

Category:Chief financial officers of Florida

Category:Florida politicians