As speculation about a possible presidential run by Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, persists, he has just made an announcement that could be a precursor to the launch of his campaign.

The popular governor and his wife, Casey DeSantis, will attend the Republican fundraiser at the “Feenstra Family Picnic” in Sioux Center, which is hosted by Representative Randy Feenstra.

“In Iowa, like Florida, freedom is valued, parents’ rights are protected, and faith comes first,” the governor said to Fox News. “Congressman Feenstra is a strong conservative with a record of delivering results, and I’m happy to support him.”

And Representative Feenstra, who is hosting the fundraiser for the Republican House Ways and Means Committee, lauded Governor DeSantis.

“While liberal states shut down their economies, forced businesses to close, and kept our kids out of the classroom, Governor DeSantis championed freedom and common sense. Florida — like Iowa — are clear examples of what strong conservative leadership can deliver for our country,” he said to Fox News.

Fox News announced:

Feenstra’s prior two “family picnic” fundraisers hosted former Vice President Mike Pence, who’s widely expected to launch his own 2024 bid, and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, whose presidential campaign has struggled to get out of Trump’s shadow.

A source familiar with planning the event clarified that DeSantis’ invitation did not constitute an endorsement for 2024, but suggested that it signaled the Florida governor was very much still a possible White House contender. The source referred to Feenstra as a “power broker” in Iowa politics.

“If you want to win in Iowa, talk to Randy Feenstra, because he is well liked,” a source said to Fox News. “In the state of Iowa, as potential presidential candidates come through… Randy wants to be an ambassador to everybody and explain what’s important to Iowa. You know, Iowans want a secure border. They want wasteful spending slashed and cut. They want someone that understands agriculture… I think Governor DeSantis represents that, and Randy certainly wants to welcome him and introduce him to Iowans who share those same values.”

This month, the DeSantis administration criticized the Biden administration for proposing new regulations that would prohibit schools from enforcing bans on transgender males participating in females’ sports and vowed to reject the proposal.

In response to the proposed regulations, Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. issued a statement declaring that Florida will never tolerate them.

“This is a sad, pathetic attempt from a completely inept administration to force their woke worldview on the rest of us,” Diaz said. “Since Joe Biden can’t get Congress or the Supreme Court to rubberstamp his radical gender ideology, he’s resorted to bullying America’s students through the federal bureaucracy. Good luck – this won’t fly in Florida.”

“We will never allow boys to play in girls’ sports,” he noted further. “We will fight this overreach tooth and nail. And we will stop at nothing to uphold the protections afforded women under Title IX.”

The Biden Administration is now trying to force states to allow boys to play in girls’ sports. @SenMannyDiazJr’s response? “Good luck — this won’t fly in Florida.”

Full statement from Commissioner Diaz below. pic.twitter.com/CNEhpHpWOY

— Alex Lanfranconi (@AlexLanfran) April 6, 2023

According to Biden’s Department of Education, schools that receive federal funding cannot prohibit biological males from participating in females’ sports, but they can exclude them on an individual basis, as noted by the Daily Wire.

More on this story via Conservative Brief:

“The proposed rule … recognizes that in some instances, particularly in competitive high school and college athletic environments, some schools may adopt policies that limit transgender students’ participation,” the education department said. CONTINUE READING…