Eddie Speer Takes on Florida GOP with New Candidacy
Eddie Speer is making waves by challenging the Florida Republican establishment. In 2024, he ran against 10-term incumbent Rep. Vern Buchanan and earned nearly 40% of the vote. This positioned him as a constitutional conservative outsider, seeking to break away from the moderate Republicans in the area.
With Buchanan’s recent announcement to retire after nearly 20 years in Washington, Speer is kicking off a grassroots campaign aimed at addressing what he disparages as “RINO Republicans”—those he believes don’t truly represent the interests of the district or Florida taxpayers.
Speer stated, “This is just a continuation of what I did in ’24 against Vern Buchanan to expose RINOs. They don’t represent the district… It’s time for someone who can actually go to D.C. with bold policies, rather than just compromising with the elite.” It’s a call for change that resonates with those frustrated by the current political dynamics.
He expressed confidence that his message and support will drive him to success in the upcoming primary on August 18. Reflecting on his previous campaign, he noted, “We had the largest grassroots movement in the history of this district… No one else even came close to getting 40 percent of the vote. Running against an incumbent is tough, but now that we don’t have one, we’re carrying on with our momentum.”
Political analysts in Florida are already speculating about potential challengers in the Republican primary, with Joe Gruters—a Trump ally who previously supported Buchanan—emerging as a key figure. However, Gruters holds several prominent positions, including Florida State Senator and RNC Chairman, and is currently vying for the role of Florida Chief Financial Officer in 2026, complicating his candidacy.
Alongside Speer and Gruters, Richard Corcoran, the new president of the University of Florida, is also considered a possible candidate. Speer’s own experience with a controversial tenure at the New College of Florida, where he wasn’t confirmed by the Florida Senate, has already put him in the national spotlight, especially as the Florida GOP attempts to reposition the school.
Other potential candidates include former state Rep. Mike Beltran, developer Carlos Belaf, and former state Senate President Bill Galvano, among others. With the field potentially crowded, it’s clear Speer will face both local competition and significant external influences.
Interestingly, Speer acknowledged that he might also be up against Donald Trump’s backing, stating, “Vern Buchanan performed poorly in the 2024 primary, despite Trump’s support. We need to carefully differentiate between constitutional conservatism and the political machine at play.”
He articulated that while he would pursue Trump’s endorsement, he feels confident in his existing grassroots support. “I think the endorsement might mean a little less, but we are proud of what we accomplished in our prior election,” he added, signaling his determination to push forward despite potential challenges.
