Former UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal is considering running for a Florida state Senate seat in the event of a special election for District 39.
Currently represented by Republican Bryan Avila, the seat may soon open if Governor Ron DeSantis appoints Avila to the Miami-Dade County Commission.
The potential vacancy arises from Kevin Marino Cabrera’s likely departure after reportedly being nominated by President Trump as U.S. ambassador to Panama.
Masvidal stated his appreciation for supporters urging him to enter the race, stating on X, “I am gratified by the many, many people who have urged me to run in this Special Election, if it happens.”
Many people believe that Florida State Senator Bryan Avila is going to fill the Miami-Dade County Commission seat being vacated by Kevin Cabrera, who President Trump has just appointed Ambassador to Panama.
This will create a Special Election for the Florida State Senate.
I am…
— Jorge Masvidal (@GamebredFighter) February 8, 2025
Notably, he highlighted his commitment to combating “child sex trafficking,” which he claimed is a persistent issue in Miami-Dade County.
“I am honored by the many citizens who are urging me to run if this opportunity presents itself, and I want everyone to know that I am thinking seriously and praying about it,” he added.
Addressing his political ambitions further, Masvidal reiterated that, while some allies had encouraged him to run for mayor of Hialeah, Florida, he is more focused on a state Senate bid.
He believes this position would allow him to tackle issues like child sex trafficking more effectively.
“The career politicians have done nothing to stop this horrific abuse of children,” Masvidal said in a follow-up post. “I am a fighter, and I am ready to fight the child sex traffickers and put them out of business.”
Hinting at his growing inclination toward candidacy, Masvidal declared himself “very likely” to enter the election while noting that he will “reflect and pray” on how best to make a difference for his community.
A staunch supporter President Donald Trump, Masvidal has often publicly defended him while condemning Democratic opponents, accusing them of steering the nation toward communism.
During an interview on election night in 2024 with podcast host Patrick Bet-David, Masvidal explained his admiration for Trump’s independent approach to politics.
“In 2015/16, I started seeing him do his thing, and he said one thing right in the beginning that caught my eye,” said Masvidal.
“That was, he said nobody was in his pockets. He said he was in all these politicians’ pockets [and] he got them to do whatever he wanted to do, and nobody was ever in his pocket. He paid everybody off.”
Masvidal noted his appreciation for Trump’s unwillingness to conform to traditional political influences.
“He was coming into the game with his own ideas, his own thoughts, and nobody could buy him,” he added.
“When I heard that, I was like, ‘This is a man that, if he says what he’s going to do, it’s going to be the best thing for us.’”
Masvidal doubled down on his belief that Trump operates independently, free from corporate or foreign influences, stating, “This is one person with his own thoughts, and he loves America. That’s how long I’ve been rocking with Trump. I love this guy.”
After Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, Masvidal celebrated on social media, tweeting, “My president back in office, call it Christmas in November.”
My president back in office, call it Christmas in November. 🫡🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/yddajCqfvR
— Jorge Masvidal (@GamebredFighter) November 6, 2024
Reflecting on Trump’s win, which Masvidal predicted would be a “massive landslide,” the fighter expressed a mix of humility and pride over his support for Trump, claiming it helped cement the win.
“I would love to toot my own horn and say I did a lot, so I could get other politicians to be like, ‘Oh, we need Masvidal’s endorsement,’” he remarked.
“But honestly, Trump didn’t need me. He won almost all of the states—I was calling it for a while ago—it’s going to be so big that they can’t rig it, and it’s going to be a massive landslide. And that’s what it was. We shook the foundation from under these Democrats.”
Masvidal has been publicly critical of Democrats, particularly former Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Joe Biden, accusing them of prioritizing progressive cultural issues over economic ones.
“Their policies are way, way, way too radical,” said Masvidal. “People like Biden and Kamala, telling us for days and days, ever since the Presidency, instead of worrying about economic problems that are so far shifted, they’re worried about transvestites and switching Easter to the National Trans Day holiday—things like that, that most Americans think are way out of touch.”
Masvidal has also slammed celebrities who endorse what he perceives as radical left-wing agendas.
“All those f**king celebrities (to) endorse Kamala, go f**k yourself. All of them. Every single last one,” Masvidal declared. “They’re against the country. It’s not that you have a political opinion or voice. No, it’s that you’re against America.”
“You’re all for that mutilation of children,” he continued. “You believe in wars overseas because Kamala stands for everything that most Americans just don’t identify with. And it’s not my voice now; it’s the whole country’s voice.”
Masvidal noted the resounding outcome of the election as a definitive rebuttal to Democratic policies.
“One of the most scrutinized elections ever. It was supposed to be close. It wasn’t even close, because they’re so far to the left that we just can’t agree with these policies,” he added. “And America’s not going to stand for it. And I’m glad that America came and spoke out.”
Masvidal has also claimed personal hardship due to his outspoken support for Trump, alleging that social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube had unjustly unmonetized his accounts.
“I got a ton of hate [for supporting Trump] and still do to this day,” Masvidal said.
Initially a successful creator on both platforms, Masvidal alleged that his support for Trump led to unprecedented action against him. “I was monetized, I was f***ing killing the game. I’m talking about good f**ing money. Like, I didn’t have to fight money. Very good money,” he explained.
“We did a video with [Donald Trump Jr.]. We got like 44 million views. I’m talking about two or three days later, simultaneously, Facebook and YouTube unmonetized me,” he continued.
“[There was] no reason why. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, you put this video that was flagged.’ There was no reason why. We were like, ‘What the f***.’”
Masvidal detailed similar experiences in 2023 after attending a rally for Trump in Florida and making a speech shortly before being once again unmonetized.
“Immediately, that was on say like Thursday—on Friday morning, again, I was unmonetized on Facebook and YouTube,” he claimed.
Despite the losses, Masvidal asserted his priorities remain intact, stating, “I don’t even give a f***, bro. Because what’s this money if I don’t have this country?”
A former UFC fighter with a 35-17 record, Masvidal retired from MMA following his last UFC fight in 2023 but returned for a boxing match against Nate Diaz, which he lost by a decision after ten rounds in 2024.
He is currently rumored to make a return to the octagon for UFC 314 in 2025 in Miami, although no opponent has been announced yet, according to BJPenn.com.
Watch Masvidal’s full interview on Jake Shield’s Fight Back Podcast here: