Trump-backed conservative Dan Franzese launches ‘America First’ bid for Florida’s new 25th District
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Republican businessman Dan Franzese announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida’s newly redrawn 25th Congressional District, launching his campaign on a strict “America First” platform.
Franzese, who was the Republican nominee for the state’s 22nd Congressional District in 2024, enters the race as a political outsider, positioning himself as a disruptor to traditional Washington politics.
“Florida families have been betrayed by career politicians far too many times,” Franzese said in a statement. “As a political outsider from the business world, President Trump has been draining the swamp, delivering secure borders, and an America First agenda. In Congress, I’ll use that same experience to back him up, make life more affordable again, and hold career politicians accountable.”
“The people of FL-25 deserve a fighter who shows up, tells the truth, and delivers — not another ladder climber cutting deals behind closed doors,” he said.
The newly configured 25th district encompasses portions of Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. The boundaries were altered last month during a special session of the state legislature. The new district heavily overlaps with Franzese’s former running territory in the old 22nd district, where he secured an endorsement from Trump during his 2024 bid.
Franzese’s platform focuses heavily on economic relief and border security, promising to align with Trump’s federal initiatives to curb inflation, lower energy costs, cut taxes, and crack down on illegal immigration.
A Wharton MBA graduate from a blue-collar background, Franzese has spent recent years embedding himself in South Florida’s grassroots conservative and faith communities. His campaign released an internal polling memo showing strong favorability among voters familiar with him from his previous congressional run.
The seat is currently held by veteran Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. However, following the introduction of the new maps, Wasserman Schultz announced that she is abandoning her reelection bid in the 25th District to run in the neighboring, more securely Democratic 20th District.
Wasserman Schultz’s sudden exit has left the FL-25 race wide open on both sides of the aisle. On the Republican side, Franzese enters a primary field that currently includes candidates Michael Carbonara and Claudia Villatoro, with recent political reporting suggesting that the vast majority of primary voters remain undecided.