Although speculation has increased that Governor DeSantis (R-FL) may run for President, nothing is official just yet. However, this has not stopped the Florida governor from gaining his first endorsement for President from US Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX).
With former President Donald Trump's announcement for running for president hit the news in late 2022, commentators immediately waited upon the next move from Governor DeSantis. President Trump taking shots at the Florida governor, calling him "DeSanctimonious" rallied up tensions between the two.
The GOP started dividing itself immediately with influential Republicans like Rep. Randy Jackson (R) and Rep. Andy Biggs (R) endorsing Trump the night of his announcement.
The tides seem to be shifting however, with a recent Tweet from Chip Roy unapologetically backing DeSantis as the Republicans' nominee in the 2024 presidential race. Roy Tweeted, "The next President of the United States must be a vibrant and energetic leader with the faith, vision, and courage to chart a new course. America needs a leader who will truly defend her and empower the people against the destructive force of unrestrained government and corporate excess, profligate spending, and woke cultural indoctrination. That leader is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis."
Rep. Roy also cited DeSantis' record on COVID, the issue that launched the governor to national prominence, "As Governor, he unequivocally has made Florida stronger and freer. Economic growth and prosperity in Florida surged upon his firm rejection of the devastating COVID mandates foisted upon us by foolishly empowered Washington bureaucrats. He stared down woke corporate America and higher education."
Several polls have emerged showing DeSantis with a fighting chance to emerge victorious over Donald Trump in a hypothetical primary race. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), which spends tens of millions of dollars every election cycle to help Republican congressional candidates and members of the House of Representatives win their federal elections, put out an email as early as September of 2022, announcing that Gov. DeSantis was leading President Trump 48% to 40 in a “hypothetical presidential primary matchup.”
