Jimmy Patronis Bio
Jimmy Theo Patronis Jr. (born April 13, 1972) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Florida’s 1st congressional district since April 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as Florida’s fourth chief financial officer from 2017 to 2025. He has held several public offices over more than two decades, including service in the Florida House of Representatives, on the Florida Public Service Commission, and on the Florida Elections Commission. Born and raised in Panama City, Florida, he is of Greek descent and remains closely tied to his hometown through a family business.
Early Life and Background
Jimmy Theo Patronis Jr. was born in Panama City, Florida, on April 13, 1972. He is of Greek descent and grew up in a family with deep roots in the local seafood industry. His family has run Captain Anderson’s, a landmark seafood restaurant in Panama City, since purchasing it in 1967. Patronis remains a partner in the business that has been a fixture of the community for decades.
Patronis attended Gulf Coast Community College, where he graduated with an associate degree in restaurant management in 1994. He then enrolled at Florida State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1996. While at Florida State, he broadened his political experience by working as an intern in the Florida Senate and in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. Those early internships gave him firsthand exposure to legislative work at both the state and international levels.
Path to U.S. Politics
Patronis’s path into public service began in 1998, when he was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to the Florida Elections Commission. He was reappointed in 2001 by Governor Jeb Bush and served on the commission until 2003. In 2004, he became chairman of the Bay County Airport Authority, a position he held until 2006. These early appointments established his reputation as a Republican with strong local ties and steady involvement in civic affairs.
In 2006, Patronis ran for the Florida House of Representatives in the 6th district, which included Panama City and parts of southern Bay County. He won the Republican primary with 39 percent of the vote and went on to defeat the Democratic nominee with 67 percent of the general-election vote. His entry into the state legislature marked the start of a long career in elected office that would eventually carry him to Washington, D.C.
Jimmy Patronis Career
Early Career (2006-2014)
Patronis served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2014, representing the 6th district. He was re-elected without opposition in 2008 and won re-election in 2010 with 78 percent of the vote. After district lines were redrawn in 2012, he ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections. Term limits prevented him from seeking another state House seat, ending his tenure in the Florida legislature in 2014.
Following his time in the state House, Patronis was appointed to the Florida Public Service Commission by Governor Rick Scott in 2015 for a four-year term. He resigned from the commission on June 25, 2017, after being selected to lead a major statewide office. His service on the commission reflected his growing influence within Florida Republican politics.
Chief Financial Officer Breakthrough (2017-2018)
On June 25, 2017, Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of Patronis as Florida’s chief financial officer, and he was sworn in on June 30, 2017. He completed the term of Jeff Atwater, who had resigned to take a position at Florida Atlantic University. As the state’s top financial officer, Patronis oversaw the Department of Financial Services and took a leading role on insurance, banking, and fiscal issues in Florida.
Patronis ran for his first full term in the 2018 election. He was unopposed in the Republican primary and faced former state senator Jeremy Ring in the general election. Despite entering election day with a five-point deficit in polling, Patronis won with 52 percent of the vote to Ring’s 48 percent. During the 2019 legislative session, he worked to pass the firefighter cancer relief bill, which provided protection and financial coverage to firefighters diagnosed with certain types of cancers.
Congressional Era (2025-Present)
On November 25, 2024, Patronis declared his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election for Florida’s 1st congressional district. The seat opened after Congressman Matt Gaetz resigned following his nomination to become United States attorney general. Patronis received the endorsement of then-President-elect Donald Trump and went on to defeat Democratic nominee Gay Valimont in the special election, despite being out-raised roughly three-to-one.
On April 2, 2025, Patronis was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives by Speaker Mike Johnson, beginning his tenure in Congress. Due to Florida’s resign-to-run law, he submitted his resignation as chief financial officer effective March 31, 2025. Governor Ron DeSantis later appointed state senator Blaise Ingoglia to serve as his successor until the 2026 election. Patronis now represents the Panhandle region in the U.S. House.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Patronis’s signature moments was his 2018 special-election win for chief financial officer after entering the day as the underdog in the polls. His subsequent role in passing the firefighter cancer relief bill in 2019 highlighted his advocacy for first responders. The 2025 transition to the U.S. House of Representatives, backed by a presidential endorsement and capped by a swearing-in ceremony, marked the defining milestone of his career so far.
Jimmy Patronis Career Wins
Over more than two decades in public service, Jimmy Patronis has compiled a steady record of electoral victories at the state and federal levels. His wins include multiple terms in the Florida House of Representatives, a successful first full term as Florida’s chief financial officer, and a hard-fought special-election victory for the U.S. House in 2025.
Florida Legislature Highlights
Patronis won his first Florida House race in 2006, taking 67 percent of the general-election vote in the 6th district. He was re-elected without opposition in 2008 and won 78 percent of the vote in 2010. After district lines were redrawn in 2012, he ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections, finishing his four terms in the Florida House with consistent and growing support.
Statewide and Federal Wins
Patronis won his first full term as Florida’s chief financial officer in 2018, defeating Democrat Jeremy Ring 52 percent to 48 percent. In 2025, he won a special election for Florida’s 1st congressional district, defeating Democrat Gay Valimont to claim the seat vacated by Matt Gaetz. These victories established him as a durable statewide candidate within the Republican Party.
Jimmy Patronis Family
Family Background and Business Lineage
Patronis comes from a family of Greek descent with deep roots in Panama City, Florida. His family has operated Captain Anderson’s seafood restaurant since purchasing it in 1967, and he is currently a partner in the business. The restaurant has long been considered a local landmark, and the family’s stewardship of it has been a defining feature of his personal and community identity.
Personal Life
Patronis met his wife, Katie Patronis, in 1998 when her uncle, a family friend, introduced them at Captain Anderson’s. The couple was married in 2006 and has two children. Katie Patronis works as a real estate agent in Panama City. Patronis is an Eastern Orthodox Christian and a lifelong member of St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church in Panama City, Florida.