The date has finally been set for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to officially enter the 2024 presidential race. Republican insiders have told multiple sources that DeSantis will file paperwork to declare his candidacy with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) next week. The announcement and paperwork will allow the governor to actively seek campaign donations. After the 2022 Midterm elections, DeSantis experienced a significant surge in popularity, fueling speculation about his potential White House bid in 2024.
According to Fox News:
After months of buildup and speculation, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida is expected to officially enter the 2024 White House race next week.
The popular two-term conservative governor will file formal paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) next week to declare his candidacy for president, sources familiar with the governor’s decision confirm to Fox News. The news was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
DeSantis set a gubernatorial fundraising record last cycle, and had $110 million cash on hand in his fundraising committees at the start of the spring. Much of that money could likely be transferred to Never Back Down, a super PAC backing the expected DeSantis presidential campaign.
Republican primary polling indicates DeSantis is the top rival to former President Donald Trump — who is making his third straight White House run. The governor is firmly in second place in the surveys behind Trump, but well ahead of the rest of the pack of actual and likely GOP White House contenders.
Governor Ron DeSantis, a widely popular conservative leader who has served two terms in Florida, has displayed clear indications of gearing up for a potential presidential campaign. These signs include severing ties with his long-standing political state committee and expanding his political team in Tallahassee. Despite winning his reelection campaign against Charlie Crist in 2022, it was widely acknowledged that DeSantis might not complete his full four-year term as governor. Many Floridians were content with electing DeSantis for a two-year term, with the expectation that he would then pursue the Presidency in 2024.
Although DeSantis has not made an official announcement regarding his candidacy, he has made multiple visits to early-voting states, signaling his active involvement in the political landscape. In Republican primary polling, he is viewed as a top contender and a formidable rival to former President Donald Trump. Currently, DeSantis is trailing Trump by a significant margin; however, he firmly holds the second position. Other potential candidates like Nikki Haley, Mike Pence (upon his official announcement), and even Chris Christie are polling in the single digits, making it unlikely for them to pose a substantial challenge to either Trump or DeSantis in the 2024 race.
