Vern Buchanan becomes eighth Florida lawmaker to back Trump over DeSantis
Mabinty Quarshie
Video Embed
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) became the eighth Republican lawmaker from Florida to endorse former President Donald Trump for president over Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who has not announced a 2024 presidential campaign.
“If we want to get our economy back on track, Donald Trump is just the guy to get it done,” Buchanan told Florida Politics on Wednesday. “From lowering taxes to protecting our borders to promoting America-first trade deals, President Trump has done it before and will do it again.”
TRUMP’S GROWING LIST OF ENDORSEMENTS SHOWS REPUBLICANS ARE RETURNING TO THE FOLD
Several Florida congressional Republicans have chosen Trump over the Sunshine State’s governor as the shadow war between Trump and DeSantis heats up.
Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) endorsed Trump on Monday, one day before DeSantis attended a meet-and-greet event in Washington, D.C. The other members of the Florida delegation backing Trump include Reps. Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna, Brian Mast, Cory Mills, and John Rutherford.
But at least one person in the Florida delegation is supporting DeSantis.
Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL) announced on Tuesday that she was endorsing DeSantis, making her the first of the Florida delegation to support the Florida governor.
“As Ron DeSantis’s Secretary of State, I had the honor of witnessing firsthand his unparalleled leadership under pressure, his character, and his commitment to core conservative principles,” Lee said in a statement. “His leadership and his vision made Florida a shining beacon of freedom. Ron DeSantis fights for what matters, and he wins when it matters most.”
Trump has racked up endorsements from at least 45 members of Congress, while DeSantis only has three congressional endorsements. And the former president is still dominating polls among likely GOP primary voters. Yet, Trump has seen his lead over 2024 rivals, including DeSantis, shrink.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
A recent poll from Yahoo News-YouGov showed Trump leading DeSantis by 16 percentage points (52% to 36%). But two weeks ago, the former president led DeSantis by 26 percentage points (57% to 31%) in a Yahoo News-YouGov poll.
DeSantis, meanwhile, spoke at South Carolina’s North Charleston Coliseum’s Montague Terrace on Wednesday. The event was part of his book tour and followed his previous meet-and-greet event in Washington, D.C.