Monday, July 06, 2026

DANIEL ANTHONY PEREZ, b. June 22, 1987 (Wikipedia)

From Wikipedia:


Daniel Perez (politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Daniel Perez
United States Ambassador to Brazil
Nominee
Assuming office
TBD
PresidentDonald Trump
SucceedingElizabeth Bagley
104th Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 19, 2024
Preceded byPaul Renner
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 116th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 6, 2018
Preceded byJose Felix Diaz
Personal details
BornDaniel Anthony Perez
June 22, 1987 (age 39)
New York City, New York, U.S.
PartyRepublican
SpouseStephanie Perez
Children3
EducationFlorida State University (BA)
Loyola University New Orleans(JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Daniel Anthony Perez (born June 22, 1987) is a Republicanmember of the Florida House of Representatives representing the state's 116th House district, which includes part of Miami-Dade County.

Florida House of Representatives

Perez defeated Jose Mallea in a special Republican primary held on July 25, 2017, winning 54.8% of the vote.[1] In the September 26, 2017 special general election, Perez won 65.8% of the vote, defeating Democrat Gabriela Mayaudon.[2]

Seeking election to his first full term in 2018, Perez defeated Frank Polo in the August 28, 2018 Republican primary, winning 80.5% of the vote.[3] In the November 6, 2018 general election, Perez won 57.32% of the vote, defeating Democrat James Harden.[4]

In 2022, Perez defended Republican efforts to add elaborate requirements for voters to vote by mail. These included forcing voters to put their double-enveloped ballots inside a third envelope and to mark the last four letters of their identity numbers. Election officials characterized the requirements as a "recipe for disaster" while voting rights advocates characterized the efforts as voter suppression. Perez defended the measures, saying "the process is actually going to be simpler... and at the same time it would be safer."[5]

In September 2023, Perez was nominated Speaker-designateof the Florida House of Representatives by his caucus. After the 2024 elections, he succeeded Paul Renner as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.[6]

Perez's term as House speaker was marked by a political feud with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.[7][8][9][10][11] DeSantis wielded extraordinary power as governor;[12][13]Perez stated that his goal was for the Legislature to be "a coequal branch of government."[14] DeSantis accused Perez of following a personal agenda,[15]while Perez accused DeSantis of cronyism.[16] The House under Perez leadership overrode Desantis's veto on funding for legislative operations, reporting that "this veto was at best a misunderstanding of the importance of the appropriation, or, at worst, an attempt to threaten the independence of our separate branch of government."[17]

In January 2025, Perez, alongside other Floridian Republicans including Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, helped to bring down an attempt by DeSantis to call a special session on the topic of illegal immigration. Perez claimed that the call for a special session should "... be used sparingly and not be stunts used to generate headlines.", as well as calling the governor's proposals "bureaucratic".[18] As a replacement, Perez and other Republican state legislators have pushed through and passed the "Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy Act" (TRUMP Act) which DeSantis has criticized for being "substantially weaker" than what he had pushed for and threatened to veto the bill.[19][20][21]

Perez has also effectively blocked DeSantis's policy proposals for property-tax cuts,[22][23] state regulation of artificial intelligence,[24] and conscience-based exemptions for childhood vaccine mandates in schools.[25]Additionally, in early 2025, Perez briefly launched an investigation into Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis'sHope Florida for money laundering and wire fraud.[26][27] However, in April 2026, Perez helped DeSantis in redistricting Florida's congressional map for the 2026 U.S. House midterm elections, approving a new map which gave Republicans 4 more seats.[28][29]

Partly due to the political feud between a Perez-allied House and a DeSantis-allied Senate, the Legislature was unable to pass a state budget two years in a row, in 2025 and 2026, during regular session, forcing the Senate to reject some of DeSantis's initiatives to reach a compromise and avoid a government shutdown.[30][31]

In September 2025, it was reported that President Donald Trump's political team supported the idea for Perez to run for the office of the Attorney General of Florida in 2026 against incumbent Attorney General James Uthmeier, an ally of Governor DeSantis.[32] Perez would go on to not run for Attorney General, continuing to serve as speaker for the remainder of DeSantis's term.[11]

In 2026, Perez made farewell speeches for his time as House Speaker, praising the chamber's ability to remain independent and stand their ground against the executive. Perez thanked his political mentors in the House and President Trump, and notably left out DeSantis allies and the governor.[33] Perez stated:

Despite what some have suggested, I never intended for conflict to define my tenure as Speaker. But I have always believed that peace without purpose is laziness. Our goal has been to leave this House of Representatives better than we found it. And we can end this term content that we have achieved at least that much.[34]

United States Ambassador to Brazil nomination

On June 1, 2026, President Donald Trump nominated Perez to serve as the United States ambassador to Brazil.[35]

Personal life

Perez is a Catholic.[36] He is also a first generation son of Cuban immigrants.[6]

References

  1.  "Florida Department of State - Election Results". Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  2.  "Florida Department of State - Election Results". Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  3.  "Florida Department of State - Election Results". Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  4.  "Florida Election Watch - State Representative". Archived from the original on November 30, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  5.  Kam, Dara (February 18, 2022). "Vote-by-mail changes would add envelopes and ID numbers". Florida Courier. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  6.  "'A win for the 305': Miami Rep. Daniel Perez poised to become next Florida Speaker". NBC 6 South Florida. September 18, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  7.  Fineout, Gary (June 4, 2025). "Inside Ron DeSantis' tough year in Florida". Politico. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  8.  Fineout, Gary (April 19, 2025). "Ron DeSantis finds a new political rival much closer to home". Politico. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  9.  Fineout, Gary (June 17, 2025). "Florida's GOP skirmish has been dominated by lawmakers. It's DeSantis' turn now". Politico. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  10.  Gancarski, A. G. (April 3, 2025). "Daniel Perez describes Ron DeSantis as 'emotional and upset,' but says relationship has been 'cordial'". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  11.  Ogles, Jacob (December 31, 2025). "Florida Politics' 2025 Politician of the Year: Daniel Perez". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  12.  Mazzei, Patricia (May 24, 2025). "How Ron DeSantis Maximized the Power of the Florida Governor's Office". The New York Times. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  13.  Craig, Tim; Rozsa, Lori (April 18, 2023). "How DeSantis became Florida's most powerful governor in a generation". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  14.  Mazzei, Patricia (June 17, 2026). "Florida's House Speaker Stood Up to DeSantis, and Shifted the Power Dynamics". The New York Times. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  15.  Perry, Mitch (March 14, 2026). "DeSantis (again) slams House Speaker Perez, claims he has 'a personal agenda' • Florida Phoenix". Florida Phoenix. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  16.  Gancarski, A. G. (February 1, 2025). "Daniel Perez says Ron DeSantis wants power, headlines in immigration fight". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  17.  Gancarski, A.G. (January 27, 2025). "Legislature restores $56M+ in support services vetoed by Gov. DeSantis". Florida Politics. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  18.  "Republican Lawmakers in Florida Rebel Against DeSantis in Rare Power Move". New York Times. January 27, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  19.  Gancarski, A.G. (January 27, 2025). "Gov. DeSantis accuses Legislature of 'theatrics' and 'messaging bills' amid Special Session split". Florida Politics. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  20.  Russon, Gabrielle (January 28, 2026). "Legislature passes TRUMP Act immigration bill that clashed with Ron DeSantis". Florida Politics. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  21.  Russon, Gabrielle (January 29, 2025). "Ron DeSantis threatens to veto bill, slams Republicans for being weak on immigration". Florida Politics. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  22.  Rohrer, Gray; Goñi-Lessan, Ana (May 15, 2026). "DeSantis lashes out at Speaker Daniel Perez as House resists his budget priorities". Miami Herald. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  23.  "Florida House speaker Perez slams DeSantis' $1,000 homeowner checks plan as "irresponsible" - CBS Miami". CBS News. May 14, 2026. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  24.  Dixon, Matt (April 28, 2026). "Republicans in Florida again block Ron DeSantis' push to regulate AI". NBC News. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  25.  Gancarski, A. G. (March 14, 2026). "Ron DeSantis rips Daniel Perez for obstructing his priorities". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  26.  Bridges, C. A.; Rohrer, Gray; Little, Jim (May 21, 2025). "What is Hope Florida? Why Casey DeSantis-connected charity is reportedly under investigation". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  27.  "State House halts investigation into Hope Florida, Casey DeSantis-linked foundation, amid lack of cooperation - CBS Miami". CBS News. April 25, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  28.  Fineout, Gary (August 7, 2025). "Florida moves toward joining national redistricting push". Politico. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  29.  Perry, Mitch (April 29, 2026). "Florida House approves DeSantis' congressional redistricting map • Florida Phoenix". Florida Phoenix. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  30.  Rohrer, Gray (June 17, 2025). "Florida lawmakers pass $115B budget, ending weeks-long standoff". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  31.  Russon, Gabrielle (May 29, 2026). "Legislature passes $114.5B budget after delays". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  32.  Ogles, Jacob (September 5, 2023). "White House officials urge Daniel Perez to run for Attorney General post". Florida Politics. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  33.  Russon, Gabrielle (March 12, 2026). "Daniel Perez says goodbye to the Florida House". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  34.  Scheckner, Jesse (June 2, 2026). "'We stood our ground': Daniel Perez bids farewell to House, highlights chamber's independent streak". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  35.  Leonard, Kimberly (June 1, 2026). "Trump nominates Florida GOP Speaker Daniel Perez to be ambassador to Brazil". Politico. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  36.  "Daniel Perez". Florida House of Representatives. Retrieved January 16, 2026.


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