{"id":52897,"date":"2025-11-19T17:15:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T17:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/52897\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T17:15:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T17:15:11","slug":"the-wealthiest-man-in-the-state-legislature-enters-race-to-become-floridas-cfo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/52897\/","title":{"rendered":"The wealthiest man in the state legislature enters race to become Florida’s CFO"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"RepresentativeRep. Kevin Steele, R-Dade City, serves as vice chairman and offers comments during the Information Technology Budget & Policy Subcommittee on Jan.y 14, 2025. Credit: Photo by Meredith Gettings \/ State of Florida<\/a><\/p>\n

Pasco County Republican House member Kevin Steele announced Tuesday that he is running for Florida chief financial officer (CFO), setting up a contested Republican primary election against incumbent Blaise Ingoglia next year.<\/p>\n

In a press release, Steele said he hopes to address the affordability crisis afflicting Floridians and \u201cthe pressing need to reign in spending and reduce waste across all levels of government.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFlorida families deserve a CFO who will run our state like a winning business \u2014 smart, tough, and with zero tolerance for waste and corruption,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs CFO, I will fight to safeguard every hard-earned tax dollar, protect consumers, and hold state government accountable to the people. I\u2019ve spent my career building companies from the ground up, fixing broken systems, and getting results. I\u2019ll bring that same America First, results-driven mindset to protect taxpayers and make Florida more affordable and stronger than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott is endorsing Steele.<\/p>\n

\u201cKevin Steele is a proven leader and a true conservative who knows how to get results,\u201d Scott said in the same press release announcing Steele\u2019s candidacy.<\/p>\n

Steele is the wealthiest man in the Florida Legislature. First elected in 2022 and re-elected last year, he reported his net worth at more than $307 million in his 2024 financial disclosure forms. Steele founded the Tampa software company DataLink Software in 2001 and retired from the company in 2022.<\/p>\n

Among the bills he has filed for this legislative session is a measure (HB 113<\/a>) that would require all state university and Florida College System institution board of trustees to rename specific roads or portions of roads after Charlie Kirk. If those institutions decline to do so, Steele\u2019s bill calls for state funds to be withheld.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also filed a resolution for a constitutional amendment (HJR 201<\/a>) that would eliminate property taxes on homesteaded property.<\/p>\n

\"ABlaise Ingoglia at St. Petersburg City Hall in St. Petersburg, Florida on Aug. 14, 2025. Credit: Sebasti\u00e1n Gonz\u00e1lez de Le\u00f3n y Le\u00f3n \/ San Pedro Gazette<\/p>\n

Divided party?<\/p>\n

In taking on Ingoglia,\u00a0appointed<\/a>\u00a0by Gov. Ron DeSantis to succeed Jimmy Patronis as CFO in July, Steele\u2019s candidacy has the potential of dividing the Republican Party of Florida. When Ingoglia was appointed in the summer, he was expected to run against Florida Republican state Sen. Joe Gruters, who had already been endorsed by President Donald Trump. Early polls showed Gruters\u00a0crushing<\/a>\u00a0Ingoglia in a one-on-one contest.<\/p>\n

However, Gruters dropped out in August after he was\u00a0selected to lead the Republican National Committee<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ingoglia, meanwhile, has received media attention as he travels around the state\u00a0accusing local governments<\/a>\u00a0of engaging in \u201cwasteful and excessive spending,\u201d in a low-level campaign for a proposed constitutional amendment on property taxes in 2026 that has yet to be written.<\/p>\n

There has been speculation that Trump will endorse Steele, but that remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

No Democrat has filed to run in the contest, according to the Florida Division of Elections website.<\/p>\n

Florida Phoenix<\/a> is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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This article appears in Nov. 13 \u2013 19, 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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