According to four people connected to the governor and former president, DeSantis has not asked Trump for a formal endorsement and isn’t planning to. It’s a clear sign that DeSantis, who more than four years ago was a little-known congressman from northeast Florida, has risen high in the GOP stratosphere.
DeSantis’ reluctance to seek the former president’s public support comes as the Florida governor prepares for a likely 2024 White House bid, even if Trump also runs in 2024 — setting up a potential clash between two powerful figures in the GOP.
“[DeSantis is] a Cat 5 hurricane in Florida politics — and in a good way if you are a Republican,” said Anthony Pedicini, a veteran GOP consultant in Florida. “He is a force of nature.”
Trump has used his endorsement as a cudgel against Republicans who voted to impeach him after the Jan. 6 riot in the Capitol, including Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.), who lost his primary to Trump-backed state Rep. Russell Fry. While Trump’s endorsement has the power to make or break a candidate, this election cycle has seen his influence waning in some races.
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