Paul Renner

Candidate — Governor of Florida

Republican

State

⚡ Declared Candidate — Aug 18 2026

🔵 Unverified

Promise Score

88%

3 kept · 1 partial · 1 pending

Voting Attendance

Pending

Not yet entered

✅

The Bottom Line

Strong Record — 88% Promise Score

88%

Out of 4 scored promises, Paul Renner has 3 promises kept, 1 partial, 1 pending. The documented record shows a strong pattern of following through on public commitments. 1 additional promise is still being tracked.

3 Kept 1 Partial 1 Pending

○

Roll Back Florida Property Taxes

Economy & Taxes

○ Pending

The Promise

"We've increased double the national average here in Florida over the last several years in property taxes and people are really struggling with the high cost of living.""

Campaign WPTV · September 2025 · Campaign announcement

The Record

Declared candidate — no gubernatorial record. Campaign pledge to reduce property taxes as governor. As House Speaker Renner did not advance significant property tax reduction legislation during his tenure.

News Source WPTV · September 2025 · voterenner.com

✓

Expand Florida's Death Penalty to Include Child Rape

Public Safety

✓ Kept

The Promise

"Those who commit the most heinous crimes against children must face the ultimate consequence."

News Source Florida Phoenix · December 2025 · 2023 Florida legislative session

The Record

Renner championed legislation during the 2023 session expanding Florida's death penalty to include defendants convicted of raping children younger than 12. The bill passed the Florida Legislature and was signed into law by Governor DeSantis. As of April 2026 the law remains on the books and has not been struck down by any court. Legal challenges are anticipated given the U.S. Supreme Court's 2008 ruling in Kennedy v. Louisiana which held that the Eighth Amendment prohibits the death penalty for non-homicide crimes against individuals — making the law's long-term constitutionality uncertain. However the law is currently in effect and enforceable.

Gov. Record Florida Phoenix · December 2025 · 2023 Florida legislative session records · flsenate.gov

◐

Restrict Minors' Access to Social Media Platforms

Education

◐ Partial

The Promise

"Certain platforms are addictive and harm children's mental health. We have a responsibility to protect our kids."

News Source WLRN · September 2025 · Florida House Speaker press release · 2024

The Record

Renner made restricting minors' social media access a priority of the 2024 legislative session. The bill passed and was signed into law by DeSantis — prohibiting children under 14 from opening accounts on certain platforms and requiring parental consent for 14-15 year olds. A federal district court judge subsequently blocked the law on First Amendment grounds. The case remains on appeal as of April 2026.

Court Record WLRN · September 2025 · Federal court ruling · 2024

✓

Pass Insurance Tort Reform to Lower Costs for Floridians

Economy & Taxes

✓ Kept

The Promise

"We need to make sure we are invested in home hardening to lower those homeowners rates — we've got to roll back property taxes and fix the insurance crisis."

Campaign WPTV · September 2025 · Campaign announcement

The Record

Renner was a lead architect of Florida's sweeping insurance tort reform legislation passed during the 2023 session. The reform eliminated one-way attorney fees and assignment of benefits abuses that had driven up insurance costs. The legislation was signed into law by DeSantis and credited by the insurance industry with beginning to stabilize Florida's market.

News Source WLRN · September 2025 · NBC News · 2023 Florida legislative session records

✓

Pass Universal School Choice Legislation

Education

✓ Kept

The Promise

"There were those who said you will never get it done — and we got it done. Every child in Florida deserves access to a quality education regardless of their zip code."

News Source NBC News · September 2025 · Florida Phoenix · December 2025

The Record

As House Speaker Renner shepherded the expansion of Florida's universal school voucher program — one of the largest school choice expansions in U.S. history — through the Legislature in 2023. The legislation passed and was signed into law by DeSantis, making Florida's school choice program available to all students regardless of income.

Gov. Record WLRN · September 2025 · Florida Phoenix · December 2025 · flsenate.gov · 2023

No score history yet. Snapshots are taken monthly.

Legislative record pending.

Paul Marvin Renner (born March 21, 1967) is a Republican attorney, Navy veteran, and former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, he grew up in Florida and attended Davidson College before serving 20 years in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer, including combat deployments in Operation Desert Storm and Afghanistan, earning the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He earned his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1994 and worked as an Assistant State Attorney prosecuting serious felony offenses before entering private practice. He was elected to the Florida House in 2015 representing Flagler County and parts of St. Johns County and rose to serve as the 103rd Speaker of the Florida House from 2022 to 2024 — a key DeSantis ally who helped shepherd major conservative legislation through the chamber. He left the House in November 2024 due to term limits. He announced his candidacy for Governor on September 3, 2025. Governor DeSantis publicly called his entry "ill-advised" and has not endorsed him.

Others from State Government

The Governor of Florida serves as chief executive of state government. As former House Speaker, Renner has direct legislative experience with Florida's governmental structure. The Speaker of the Florida House presides over the 120-member chamber, sets the legislative agenda, assigns bills to committees, and negotiates with the Senate and Governor on major legislation. Renner served in that role during the 2022-2024 sessions, overseeing passage of major DeSantis-backed legislation.

Donor information pending.

Contact information pending.