The Republican governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, visited Capitol Hill to meet with his party’s legislators, but former president Donald Trump stole the headlines and endorsements.
A day before Governor DeSantis’s visit to Washington, D.C., the former president secured the endorsements of two Florida Republican representatives, Reps. John Rutherford and Greg Steube, and a third, Rep. Brian Mast, appeared on CNN and announced his support for Trump.
Rep. Lance Gooden of Texas, a Republican, departed his meeting with Gov. DeSantis and declared his support for the former president, which may have been the final nail in the coffin for the governor.
“Today, after careful consideration and a positive meeting with Governor DeSantis, I have decided to endorse President @realDonaldTrump for 2024. I look forward to fighting alongside him to reclaim our country from the leftist forces trying to destroy it,” he said on Twitter.
“I met with Governor DeSantis, and while he has done commendable work in Florida, there is no doubt in my mind that President Trump is the only leader who can save America from the leftist onslaught we are currently facing,” he said.
CNN reported that the former president’s campaign celebrated the endorsements.
“We want to be able to show that even members in DeSantis’ own state, who know and work with him, don’t support him for president,” a source close to the Trump campaign said.
The two men’s approaches to the competition for endorsements reflect their divergent personalities. Some of Trump’s advisers and top surrogates, both on and off Capitol Hill, have been directly involved in lobbying members to support his presidential campaign. Even Republican consultants who support Trump spent days working the phones for the former president.
This week, Trump’s campaign is expected to release additional endorsements from the Florida delegation. Trump’s campaign is keeping a close eye on who endorses him and who does not.
DeSantis, on the other hand, has just begun the process of making crucial inroads with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, with his team reaching out to some members and the governor meeting directly with members at the reception in Washington; however, once he officially enters the race, more lawmakers are expected to throw their support behind him.
However, endorsements are not inherently indicative of race performance or future success. And while Trump has accumulated more to date, DeSantis has not yet formally announced a presidential candidacy, making it difficult to compare their track records.
According to reports, Republican Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has halted his intentions to run for president in 2024.
The New York Times reported that Youngkin informed his advisors and donors that he is focused on assisting Republicans perform well in the state’s legislative elections in November, months after the party’s primary debates commence in August.
“Listen, I didn’t write a book, and I’m not in Iowa or New Hampshire or South Carolina,” Youngkin said when asked about a potential timeline for 2024. “I am wholly focused on the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I’m looking forward to these elections.’’
“Youngkin hopes to flip the state legislature to a Republican majority. That could earn him a closer look from rank-and-file Republicans nationwide, who so far have been indifferent to the presidential chatter surrounding him in the news media, and among heavyweight donors he would need to keep pace alongside more prominent candidates. He has yet to crack 1% in polls about the potential Republican field,” the New York Times reported.
“Tellingly, Youngkin’s two top political advisers, who guided his gubernatorial victory and were mapping out a 2024 strategy, both took jobs this month with a super PAC that supports the presidential candidacy of DeSantis,” the outlet added.
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Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has not officially announced he’s running for president in 2024, but many believe he will toss his hat in the ring at some point this year. CONTINUE READING…
