New York, Christodoulos Athanasatos

The support of the newly elected president, Donald Trump, was secured by the expatriate Director of Financial Services and Fire Chief of the State of Florida, Dimitris Patronisin order to claim the congressional seat left vacant by the resignation of Matt Gage.

Mr. Patronis, who, as reported by a recent report, had expressed his interest in contesting the election in Florida’s 1st District, can now be considered the frontrunner for this position, since Trump’s support brings him to advantageous position over his would-be intra-party rivals, while a candidate from the Democratic Party would hardly be able to garner a high percentage in the special election process.

“Jimmy Patronis, Director of Financial Services for the great Florida, has done an outstanding job in his position and also serves as the State Fire Marshal as well as an important member of the Florida government. I hear that Jimmy is now considering a campaign for the House of Representatives in Florida’s 1st Congressional District.

A fourth generation Floridian from the beautiful Panhandle, and owner of an iconic seafood restaurant, Jimmy has been a wonderful friend to me and MAGA.

As your new Congressman, Jimmy would work tirelessly alongside me to grow our economy, secure our borders, stop immigrant crime, strengthen our incredible military and veterans, restore American energy dominance and defend the ever-assaulted Second Amendment.

If he decides to enter the race, Jimmy Patronis has my full support. RUN, JIMMY, RUN,” said Trump’s support post on Truth Social, the social network platform he owns.

Dimitris Patronis then proceeded to reproduce Trump’s post, stating, with his own post on X, that he is “ready for work”.

“Put me to work, Mr. President. I am here to serve” he said, among other things.

Dimitris Patronis, who traces his origin from Patmos, being the grandson of a Greek immigrant, is considered a powerful person in the State of Florida, since his name has been discussed mainly for the candidacy of the new Governor in 2026, given that the current Governor Ron de Sandys cannot seek a third term.

An election of Patronis to Congress has been characterized by circles of Greek-American organizations as a good prospect for the promotion of Greek-American issues, since he himself maintains relations with Greece and the Greek community of Florida, while his father was a founding member of a local parish and Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

It is recalled that the special elections will be held, at the internal party level, at the end of January, while the central election process is set for April 1st.