Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has claimed that Florida, under Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership, is one of the worst states to live, find economic opportunity, work, retire, raise a family, pay taxes, be safe, rent a home, have a baby, afford energy, die, be a teacher, be a doctor, or be a police officer.[0] This rebuttal comes after Governor DeSantis claimed that Florida is thriving under his leadership. However, Trump’s attacks on DeSantis have caused the governor’s popularity to decline, with many Florida lawmakers now throwing their support behind Trump in the 2024 presidential race.
DeSantis has been trying to position himself as an alternative to Trump, but he has failed to understand that Trump’s recklessness is the key to his popularity.[1] Trump was not a typical politician, and he governed differently from a typical Republican.[1] DeSantis lacks the same authenticity that Trump had, which is why he has failed to replicate Trump’s success.
DeSantis’ first term as governor was successful because of his hands-off approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] However, after Trump announced in November 2022 that he was again running for president, DeSantis has been subjected to near-daily attacks from Trump.[2] His popularity has declined in public polling, and some donors are questioning whether he is ready for the big leagues.[2]
DeSantis is not yet a declared presidential candidate, but he is doing everything that someone who is running for president does.[1] He is traveling to swing states, using his home base as a means of generating national attention, and running ads about how good a guy he is. However, it is not going well for him. He has grown obsessed with uprooting progressive ideology from every aspect of people’s lives, which may not resonate with Republican voters.
At least six members of the 20-person GOP delegation from Florida have endorsed Trump.[3] He previously picked up the support of Reps. Matt Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna, and Cory Mills, all of whom had long been predicted to side with Trump.[2] However, he was also backed by Rep. Byron Donalds, a DeSantis ally who introduced him at his 2022 election night victory party.[2]
DeSantis has also scored a handful of congressional endorsements of his own from the likes of Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), and Lee.[4] However, there is little indication that DeSantis is usurping Trump’s favor within the Republican Party by and large.[5]
In conclusion, DeSantis’ attempts to position himself as an alternative to Trump have failed. Trump’s attacks on DeSantis have caused the governor’s popularity to decline, and many Florida lawmakers are now throwing their support behind Trump in the 2024 presidential race. DeSantis lacks the authenticity that Trump had, and his obsession with uprooting progressive ideology from every aspect of people’s lives may not resonate with Republican voters.
0. “Pro-DeSantis PAC offers to pay for Trump to move out of Florida after he called it the ‘worst state'” Fox News, 22 Apr. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pro-desantis-pac-offers-pay-trump-move-out-florida-after-he-called-it-worst-state
1. “Ron DeSantis Is Having an Epic Disaster of a Week” The New Republic, 19 Apr. 2023, https://newrepublic.com/article/172048/ron-desantis-washington-reboot-flop
2. “Trump runs up the score in DeSantis’ backyard with endorsements” NBC News, 19 Apr. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-runs-score-desantis-backyard-endorsements-rcna80332
3. “Why Ron DeSantis keeps losing Florida endorsements to Trump” Vox.com, 19 Apr. 2023, https://www.vox.com/politics/2023/4/19/23689747/trump-desantis-florida-endorsement
4. “Inside the collapse of Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign” The Telegraph, 22 Apr. 2023, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/22/inside-the-collapse-of-ron-desantis-presidential-campaign/
5. “DeSantis’ D.C. charm offensive was a massive failure” MSNBC, 19 Apr. 2023, https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/desantis-washington-dc-trump-endorsements-rcna80468
