Republicans in the Florida legislature appear to be staying away from the apparent rift between former President Donald Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis.
Republicans in Florida win seats in midterm elections From 16 Republican congressmen in Florida to 20 post-election. This, coupled with Republican Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, means the GOP has 22 Republicans representing Florida in Congress. But the current battle between Trump and DeSantis puts them in a unique and perhaps uncomfortable position as they expect them to choose one side and reveal their allegiance.
“Rep. Aaron Bean called choosing between Trump and DeSantis a ‘Sophie’s choice’…” It’s worth pointing out here.)
https://t.co/v24S8WP1eU via @politico
— Sally Goldenberg (@SallyGold) March 17, 2023
But that hasn’t happened — at least not collectively. Rep. Matt Gates and Anna Paulina Luna openly support Trump, but politico playbook report Most of the Republicans in the Florida Republican delegation are not taking sides as tensions rise between the former president and the governor.
For example, Rep. Neil Dunne (R-Florida) said: Politico He says he’s decided who to support, but is choosing to keep it to himself for the time being.
“Oh wow. You’re really trying to get me into a situation here,” he said, adding, “I don’t have to target myself for a year.”
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL). (Patrick Semanski Poole/Getty Images)
Senator Rick Scott also provided a no-answer, noting that he doesn’t like to endorse in the primary.but what did he hint at Politico It has been described as an “icy” relationship with the governor.
“I don’t know about DeSantis because he doesn’t talk to me. I talk to Trump. I wish him the best of luck,” Scott said.
Meanwhile, Rep. Aaron Bean has also outright refused to choose a side, despite having previously said:
Rep. Aaron Bean called deciding between Trump and DeSantis “Sophie’s Choice.” This is a reference to movies and novels where the Nazis let women choose which of their children will die. (It’s worth pointing out here that at last year’s Florida Republican debate, Bean was asked the same question and sided with DeSantis.)
But even Florida Republicans who have made their preferences clear have revealed that they love both Trump and DeSantis.
“I love DeSantis,” Rep. Luna said. “I don’t think anyone can compete with him for governor and I would be sad to see him leave early. I hope not, but I love them both.”
Anna Paulina Luna (Republican-Florida). (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
In an interview with CPAC, Rep. Gates revealed that he loved the two potential candidates, but claimed Trump had “the magic of the moment.”
“I stand with President Trump,” he said. “I have worked very closely with Ron DeSantis. I’m here.
Rep. Matt Gates (R-Florida). (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“If you do it right, you get the best of both worlds,” he continued. “Donald Trump will be president for four years in his second term, and then Ron DeSantis could become president. It’s like a crowd ready for the MAGA movement.
All eyes then turn to the Florida Republican Party, but the organization makes no choice either. At least under the leadership of chairman Christian Ziegler.
He praised both men, viewing Trump as “one of the greatest, if not the greatest, presidents ever,” and DeSantis perhaps one of the greatest governors in the nation’s history. Florida Republicans said they would remain neutral through a preliminary run to determine who the 2024 candidate will be.
“We’re going to support both men,” Ziegler said during an appearance in March Breitbart News Saturday.
“We will remain neutral. And let the grassroots choose and make sure they get elected, whoever they choose, whether it’s President Trump or not.” [or] Governor DeSantis. We’re going to let the grassroots choose,” he said, adding that once the primaries are complete, the Florida Republican Party “will work like hell to get them elected later.”
As reported by Breitbart News:
He added more perspective, recalling the crowded GOP field of 2016 that included the likes of Jeb Bush and Senator Marco Rubio. Grassroots in Florida overwhelmingly supported Trump that year. But had the Florida Republicans gone all-in on him one of the other candidates in the primary, it would have led to a major disconnect with voters who chose Trump.
“And I promise if the party was in 2016 it was probably for one of them [Bush or Rubio]And we saw grassroots votes for Trump in 66 of Florida’s 67 counties. So there would have been a big disconnect. That’s why I’m a fan of the party that stays neutral,” he said, explaining that the party is ready to contest candidates at the “moment” of the primary.
Andy Vermaut shared: DeSantis laughs off question about 2024 presidential plans: “Don’t you want to know?”: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis provided a candid answer on Tuesday… https://t.co/QnsL1YrHAd thank you. #ThankYouJournaistsForTheNewsWeGetFromYou #AndyVermautThankYou pic.twitter.com/jrNPvY2kPT
— Andy Vermaut (@AndyVermaut) February 14, 2023
Despite looming speculation, DeSantis has yet to reveal his political ambitions and has remained shy, dismissing questions about his relationship with the former president. He was shy when asked. Said Reporter: “Don’t you want to know?”
But his pro-police tour and recent nationwide book tour have added to speculation that he’s seriously considering a 2024 White House bid, possibly leading to the pro-Trump super PAC Make America Great. It prompted Again Inc. to file an ethics complaint, accusing DeSantis of running a “shadow presidential campaign.” DeSantis’ administration dismissed the allegations as nothing more than a “politically motivated” attack.
