Trump campaign rages as DeSantis notches 99 key Florida endorsements
Ryan King
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A whopping 99 Florida state GOP legislators have preemptively endorsed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) for president, according to the DeSantis-aligned Never Back Down super PAC.
“Ron DeSantis’s support among Republicans in the Florida legislature is almost universal because these lawmakers have partnered with the governor to pass the most robust conservative agenda in the history of the state, putting Florida at the top of the rankings on every key metric,” a top DeSantis political operation official told the Washington Examiner.
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The endorsement spree comprises roughly 88% of the Republican members in both chambers of the Florida legislature and comes as the governor’s 2024 decision is rapidly approaching. Former President Donald Trump’s campaign accused the governor of deploying strong-arm tactics to accrue endorsements.
“It’s no surprise that Ron DeSantis and his political cronies have continued to terrorize the Florida legislature with the threat of his veto pen if they don’t acquiesce to his demand to endorse his candidacy. There are some brave legislators who have stood up to DeSantis’s swamp-like behavior,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.
Trump, a Florida resident, previously boasted on Truth Social that “our support is almost universal in Florida and throughout the U.S.” He has eclipsed DeSantis in terms of endorsements from members of the Florida congressional delegation, amassing nearly a dozen, while DeSantis has the backing of Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL).
So far, the former president appears to have eked at least one defection from the state legislature with Republican state Sen. Joe Gruters. Cheung publicly accused DeSantis’s allies of pressuring Republicans for endorsements after several New Hampshire Republicans were listed as endorsing both Trump and DeSantis.
DeSantis has racked up a tranche of endorsements in recent days, including 37 Iowa endorsements ahead of his visit over the weekend and 51 New Hampshire endorsements unveiled Tuesday, according to Never Back Down.
“The widespread support from legislators in his home state underscores DeSantis’s successful and effective leadership, which should serve as a blueprint for our country. Floridians know Ron DeSantis is the fresh face of conservatism America needs and that he will beat Joe Biden in 2024,” said Erin Perrine, Never Back Down’s communications director.
Recently, Trump’s team stumbled into controversy for touting endorsements from multiple Iowa politicos who described themselves as undecided, Axios reported.
DeSantis has flexed his line-item veto pen in the past, but it is unclear what evidence the Trump campaign has to back up allegations of leveraging his veto power to lock down endorsements.
“There are some brave legislators who have stood up to DeSantis’s swamp-like behavior and resisted his intimidation tactics in order to do what is right for Florida and the country. Those who he can’t control — including almost the entirety of the Florida federal congressional delegation — have endorsed President Trump,” Cheung added.
The Washington Examiner contacted Cheung for comment.
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Although he has yet to enter the 2024 arena, DeSantis has polled as Trump’s chief political rival.
Next week, DeSantis is expected to convene over 100 donors and other allies for a briefing, according to multiple reports.