Ron DeSantis thought he controlled Florida politics.
But Rick Scott just proved him wrong.
And Rick Scott declared war on Ron DeSantis with this Florida power play.
Scott Backs Challenger To DeSantis' Hand-Picked CFO
Florida Senator Rick Scott endorsed state Representative Kevin Steele in the 2026 race for chief financial officer on Tuesday.
The endorsement puts Scott squarely against incumbent CFO Blaise Ingoglia, who Governor Ron DeSantis appointed to the position in July 2025.
"Kevin Steele is a proven leader and a true conservative who knows how to get results," Scott said.¹
https://twitter.com/ScottforFlorida/status/1990755329026703615?s=20
Steele jumped into the race promising to address Florida's affordability crisis and crack down on government waste.
The Dade City software executive reported his net worth at more than $307 million in his 2024 financial disclosure forms.
"Florida families deserve a CFO who will run our state like a winning business — smart, tough, and with zero tolerance for waste and corruption," Steele explained in his announcement.²
The billionaire businessman founded Tampa's DataLink Software in 2001 and retired from the company in 2022 after building it into a successful enterprise.
Old Grudges Die Hard In Florida Politics
This endorsement is pure revenge and everyone in Tallahassee knows it.
In 2015, Ingoglia defeated Scott's hand-picked chairwoman Leslie Dougher to become chair of the Republican Party of Florida.
The humiliating defeat came just weeks after Scott was inaugurated for his second term as governor.
Party insiders at the time said the vote wasn't about Dougher herself but about stopping Scott's top-down control of Florida politics.
"The grassroots didn't go for it," one party member told reporters after the vote.³
The Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee immediately removed $800,000 from party coffers following Ingoglia's election in what insiders called a clear message of displeasure from Scott's allies.
Now Scott is returning the favor by backing Steele against DeSantis' appointed CFO.
Trump Endorsement Could Change Everything
The race has potential to become a proxy battle between President Donald Trump and DeSantis.
Trump has endorsed Republican candidates for every other statewide office on Florida's 2026 ballot including governor and U.S. Senate.
But Trump hasn't endorsed Ingoglia for CFO.
When Ingoglia was appointed in the summer, Trump initially endorsed state Senator Joe Gruters for the job before he dropped out to become chair of the Republican National Committee.
Early polls at the time showed Gruters crushing Ingoglia in a one-on-one contest.
Steele was among several Florida lawmakers who met with Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House in September.
"My meetings at the White House made clear that Florida needs a CFO who won't gamble with our future," Steele told Florida Politics in September.⁴
That was a clear shot at Ingoglia and hinted at potential Trump support.
Trump's team has been encouraging Steele to get in the race according to multiple reports.
Ingoglia also has baggage with Trump's 2016 campaign when he served as Republican Party of Florida chair.
While Ingoglia remained neutral in the 2016 Florida presidential primary, Trump's campaign accused him of bias toward then-Senator Marco Rubio.
Steele Goes Bold With Charlie Kirk Tribute Bill
Steele is sponsoring legislation that shows he understands Trump's movement.
He filed a bill requiring all Florida public universities and colleges to name a road after Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist assassinated in Utah in September 2025.
https://twitter.com/KevinSteeleFL/status/1975904446174658574?s=20
The legislation would withhold state funding from any school that refuses to honor Kirk's memory.
Kirk's assassination galvanized young conservatives and became a rallying point for the America First movement.
Steele is betting that forcing universities to honor Kirk will resonate with Trump's base in the Republican primary.
The businessman is also sponsoring a constitutional amendment to eliminate all property taxes — except those for schools — on Florida residents' primary homes.
That kind of bold conservative policy could help Steele overcome his name recognition disadvantage against Ingoglia.
Ingoglia’s Advantage
Ingoglia has roughly $4.7 million available in his campaign account and the two political committees he controls.
From 2014 to 2025, he served in the Florida Legislature where he built relationships across the state.
Ingoglia was also chair of the Republican Party of Florida from 2015 to 2019, giving him deep connections to GOP activists.
Since taking office as CFO, Ingoglia has traveled the state attacking local governments for what he calls "wasteful and excessive spending."
https://twitter.com/GovGoneWild/status/1985382775608717373?s=20
He's been building a profile around fiscal conservatism that aligns with the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency efforts.
But none of that matters if Trump decides to endorse Steele.
Scott's endorsement is the first sign that Florida Republicans are choosing sides in what could become the nastiest GOP primary of 2026.
The winner faces no Democrat opposition in November since no Democrat has filed to run.
That means whoever wins the August 2026 Republican primary will become Florida's next chief financial officer.
And whether Trump or DeSantis ends up on top will say everything about who really controls Florida politics.
¹ Mitch Perry, "Pasco Republican Kevin Steele to take on Blaise Ingoglia in GOP race for CFO," Florida Phoenix, November 18, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Marc Caputo, "Florida GOP bucks Rick Scott, chooses Rep. Blaise Ingoglia for chair," Miami Herald, January 17, 2015.
⁴ Jesse Scheckner, "Donald Trump's team is 'encouraging' Kevin Steele to run for CFO," Florida Politics, September 7, 2025.
