Eddie Speir, who nearly defeated 10-term Rep. Vern Buchanan in 2024 with just under 40% of the vote, has launched a second grassroots campaign after Buchanan announced his Jan. 27 retirement. Speir frames his run as a bid to purge "RINOs" and bring a bold conservative agenda to Washington, pointing to his historic 2024 showing as evidence of momentum. The Aug. 18 GOP primary could feature establishment contenders such as Joe Gruters, plus potential entrants including Richard Corcoran, Mike Beltran, Carlos Beruff, Bill Galvano, and Mike Rahn. Speir also signaled he may have to contend with Trump-aligned endorsements and party machinery even as he courts broader conservative support.
Eddie Speir Vows To Purge 'RINOs' As He Launches Second Bid For Vern Buchanan's Open Florida Seat
Eddie Speir, founder of Inspiration Academy, tech entrepreneur and congressional candidate for Florida's 16th district, comprising Manatee County and the eastern portion of Hillsborough County.(Fox News)
Eddie Speir — the conservative insurgent who nearly unseated 10-term Rep. Vern Buchanan in 2024 — has announced a second grassroots bid for Florida's 16th Congressional District after Buchanan's Jan. 27 retirement announcement. Speir cast himself in 2024 as a constitutional-conservative outsider and finished just under 40% against the entrenched incumbent.
Campaign Message And Momentum
Speir framed his new campaign as a continuation of last year's effort to challenge what he calls "RINOs" (Republicans In Name Only) and to deliver a bold, uncompromising conservative agenda in Washington.
“This is just a continuation of what I did in '24, which was run against Vern Buchanan to expose the RINOs that are not representing the district…and the taxpayers of Florida. We need somebody that's gonna step up and actually represent and go to Washington D.C. with a bold agenda and not compromise to the elite social circles that are up there in D.C.,” Speir said.
He points to his 2024 performance and his grassroots organization as proof of momentum heading into the Aug. 18 primary: "We were the largest grassroots movement in this district's history…Nobody else had even come close to earning 40% in the entire state of Florida. … So, it's hard to push against an incumbent here in Florida. But now there's not even an incumbent, so we're just gonna continue the same momentum that we had and get the message out."
Potential Primary Field
Florida political observers have floated several likely contenders who could join the GOP primary. The most prominent is Joe Gruters, a close Trump ally who previously worked on Buchanan's campaigns. Gruters currently holds multiple roles — Florida state senator, RNC chairman, and declared candidate for Florida Chief Financial Officer in 2026 — complicating any decision to enter the 16th District race.
Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., attends the House Ways and Means Committee meeting. Buchanan announced recently that he is retiring from Congress.
Other names discussed include:
- Richard Corcoran, president of New College of Florida
- Former state Rep. Mike Beltran
- Developer Carlos Beruff
- Former state Senate President Bill Galvano
- Manatee County Commissioner Mike Rahn
Background: New College Appointment And National Profile
Speir was appointed to the New College of Florida board of trustees by Gov. Ron DeSantis in January 2023, but the Florida Senate declined to confirm the appointment. That episode and Speir's contentious tenure at the college helped elevate his profile beyond the district as Florida Republicans repositioned the institution.
Endorsements, Trump, And The Establishment
Speir warned that his path to victory may involve resisting not only the local GOP establishment but also forces aligned with former President Donald Trump. He criticized Trump's 2024 endorsements of Buchanan and other candidates he described as problematic, saying endorsements are less decisive than grassroots support — though he did not rule out seeking Trump's backing this cycle.
The primary is set for Aug. 18, and the open seat has already attracted attention from multiple statewide and regional figures, setting up a potentially competitive Republican primary in the heart of Florida.
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