After Matt Gaetz withdrew his bid for attorney general amid backlash over sexual misconduct allegations against him, which he denied outright, his political future now faces uncertainty although there are many avenues he could explore. But will he regain his congressional seat that he resigned as soon as he was nominated as attorney general? The answer is no. Matt Gaetz will not automatically regain his House seat and will likely have to run for re-election. But that may not be something he wants at this point.
Another role in the Trump administration?
Matt Gaetz opted out of the nomination on his own at a time when reports claimed Donald Trump was making a pitch for Getz. Elon Musk called Gaetz ‘Hammer of Justice’ and the party’s top brass apparently had no problem with the allegations against him.
Gaetz could still get another role in the Trump administration that does not require Senate confirmation.
Run for governor?
Gaetz could also run for governor after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ term expires in 2026, but that would also be controversial because of sexual misconduct allegations.
Return to Congress through a special election
Gaetz resigned from Congress on November 13, and in his resignation letter he wrote: “I do not intend to be sworn into the same office in the 119th Congress to pursue the position of Attorney General in the Trump Administration.” Gaetz did not have to resign from Congress to serve in Trump’s cabinet, but his resignation came just days before the House Ethics Committee was scheduled to release a report on his sexual misconduct.
Now if he returns to Congress, he will lose all the seniority he was serving since 2017, an expert said.
If he wants to return, he will have to win a special election. If it returns, it will again come under the purview of the Ethics Committee and the report will certainly be published.
The Senate
Gaetz could fill Marco Rubio’s seat in the Senate after Rubio is confirmed as secretary of state. But Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of Donald Trump, is also a possible candidate for Rubio’s seat.
A career in media or law
Getz has a law degree although he rarely practices. He can also explore a career in media as he has some experience in this. In 2021, Getz started his own show “Firebrand with Matt Getz”.