Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressed his gratitude to approximately 100 influential supporters and donors at the renowned Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The gathering served as a platform for the governor to express his appreciation and hint at future endeavors.
DeSantis’ hopes of running for president in 2024 quickly crumbled, but there is already a prevailing belief among the network he established for his campaign that he is considering another bid in 2028, a time when former President Donald Trump is unlikely to be seeking reelection.
Since coming back to Tallahassee on a full-time basis, DeSantis has been actively engaging with his key political supporters, prioritizing immigration matters beyond the state of Florida (such as deploying additional National Guardsmen to the southern border), advocating for federal constitutional amendments to implement congressional term limits, and openly endorsing culture-war initiatives that initially propelled him to prominence within the Republican Party.
DeSantis supporters interpret these actions, along with the recent event at the Hard Rock, as indications that the Florida governor is contemplating a potential presidential campaign. Since he is approaching term limits and cannot seek re-election as governor, DeSantis mentioned in a February call with his supporters that he has not completely dismissed the idea of a future run. However, he also acknowledged that it would be premature to make any definitive statements at this time.
“I believe it is quite clear what Governor DeSantis is implying,” expressed a supporter of his who was present at the recent events. “He has made no effort to diminish this notion, and rightfully so.”
During the weekend’s events, DeSantis did not explicitly mention his intention to run for president again, as reported by three attendees. However, he did express his belief that two significant Florida ballot measures, one regarding abortion protections in the state constitution and another regarding the legalization of recreational marijuana, would not succeed this autumn. Additionally, he discussed the conservative-driven changes that have taken place at the state level since he assumed office, drawing parallels to the developments at the federal level.
On Saturday evening, the highlight of the event was DeSantis engaging in a conversation with Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who were among the select few members of Congress who supported DeSantis’ presidential campaign. Prior to DeSantis officially declaring his candidacy, both Roy and Massie accompanied him on his campaign trail, where DeSantis presented his comprehensive “blueprint” for the policies he would later champion.
Another attendee noted that Chip Roy passionately discussed the dysfunction of the federal government and expressed his belief that the current speaker is likely to be removed. The attendee described the event as the “DeSantis-Massey-Chip Roy show,” reminiscent of the campaign’s style and the blueprint approach that Roy used.
The pro-DeSantis super PAC Fight Right hosted the event, which came into existence during his presidential campaign. The event was attended by some of DeSantis’ closest allies and was seen as a result of ongoing tension with Never Back Down, which initially acted as the primary pro-DeSantis super PAC.
The event, although organized by a super PAC, was not intended as a fundraiser. Instead, it served as a gesture of appreciation towards the donors, without any financial contributions being made during the event.
According to another participant, the purpose of the gathering was not to raise funds, but rather to bring everyone together in the same space.
Donor maintenance has become a focal point for DeSantis, addressing a previous perceived weakness. Following his campaign, DeSantis prioritized connecting with donors and supporters through a phone call, including delegates who had committed their support for him at the Republican National Convention.
During the call, DeSantis maintained his critical stance towards Trump, expressing his concern that the former president seemed to be increasingly focused on identity politics. These comments further highlighted the strained relationship between the two individuals.
During the recent event held at the Hard Rock, the topic of Trump was intentionally avoided.
According to one attendee, Governor DeSantis is currently showing respect towards Trump and is not trying to overshadow him. However, there are some Trump supporters who feel that DeSantis could be doing more, but considering that Florida is a Republican state that Trump is expected to win, it begs the question of what more they could possibly want.
According to the source, DeSantis is unlikely to actively serve as a surrogate or prominent voice for Trump. However, he will express his support when requested.
According to the individual, the primary objective should be to address any harm DeSantis may have caused to his political reputation among GOP voters throughout a contentious primary campaign.
“I believe there is definitely a need for reform. His national image needs to be repaired,” stated one of the attendees. “Sending him to Pennsylvania right now may not be the best solution, as it may not yield any positive results.”
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