House Speaker Daniel Perez announced his formal resignation effective Aug. 21, as he prepares to be the U.S. ambassador to Brazil under President Donald Trump.
In a letter to members of the House on Friday, Perez, a Miami Republican, wrote that upon being confirmed for the post by the U.S. Senate he intends to “begin my tenure once I take the oath of office, which will be later this month.”
“Serving in this House and as your Speaker has been the honor of my life. We have been on a sometimes thrilling and sometimes tumultuous journey together,” Perez wrote. “As you look back on this term, I hope you feel, as I do, that we have done right by this House and the people of Florida. Until we meet again.”
Perez’s term in the House was to end with the general election in November due to term limits.
Speaker pro tempore Wyman Duggan, a Jacksonville Republican, will act as speaker through the end of the current term, but Perez wrote House Speaker-designate Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island, will assume the duties in September.
“Practically speaking, I have notified Speaker-designate Garrison that his team may assume control over the House’s operations on September 8th so that he will have more time to prepare for the start of his term,” Perez wrote.
Garrison was reelected this year without opposition.
Duggan isn’t running for reelection due to term limits.
President Donald Trump nominated Perez for the office on June 1.
Perez, R-Miami, has long been a Trump supporter and helped pass a redrawing of Florida’s congressional districts after the president had called on GOP-led states to pass new maps to help Republicans maintain control of the U.S. House.
Trump has been a supporter of Perez in his tenure as speaker, even though Perez and Gov. Ron DeSantis have clashed publicly over the past two years.