Governor Ron DeSantis said he accepted Kevin Guthrie's resignation as director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. He added that Guthrie had indicated a desire to pursue the lieutenant governor nomination alongside Jay Collins, whose primary performance was announced the day before his second-place finish. DeSantis noted that agency heads should focus on emergency management rather than political aspirations.

A text message from Guthrie to former colleagues, obtained by Florida Politics, described his departure as a sudden loss of his job rather than a voluntary choice. He wrote that he had considered the move a gamble and never imagined losing his position for being involved in politics.

DeSantis first announced publicly on Tuesday that Guthrie had resigned. He said the decision allowed the agency to remain focused on its core mission. Jared Perdue, Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, will assume the director role. He is unlikely to use the position as a stepping stone for a campaign before the end of DeSantis' term.

Guthrie previously served as Chief of Staff under Governor Rick Scott and was elevated to Deputy Director in 2019. He was promoted to director in 2021 after experience as Emergency Preparedness Coordinator with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and Flagler County Public Safety and Emergency Management Director.

The circumstances of Guthrie's exit remain disputed, with DeSantis characterizing the resignation as voluntary while Guthrie's communication suggested otherwise.