In the News
As DeSantis Heads to DC, Yet Another FL Republican Backs Trump
Ron DeSantis and his team are trying to “stop the bleeding” as Florida’s delegation coalesces behind Donald Trump’s presidential campaign – but their attempts aren’t working. As DeSantis heads to DC today to beg for support, Rep. Greg Steube last night became the latest Florida Republican to buck DeSantis’s courtship and endorse Donald Trump instead.
In case you missed it…
Sarasota Herald-Tribune: DeSantis struggling on home turf as another Florida congressman, Greg Steube, backs Trump
Key points:
- U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, announced Monday that he is endorsing former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential contest, becoming the fifth member of Florida’s GOP congressional delegation to back Trump and adding to the sense that Gov. Ron DeSantis is struggling to muster support on his home turf.
- Steube’s Trump endorsement comes after he recently was contacted by DeSantis’ team. He told the Herald-Tribune that he assumed they wanted to talk about his endorsement, but did not speak with them.
- NBC News reported that DeSantis’ political operation has been calling Republicans in Florida’s congressional delegation to try to keep them from endorsing Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
- In addition to Steube, DeSantis’ team has contacted Florida U.S. Reps Vern Buchanan, Aaron Bean, Kat Cammack, Mario Diaz-Balart and Laurel Lee, according to NBC.
- The push by DeSantis to try to halt Trump’s momentum in Florida came after the former president picked up the endorsement of two more Florida congressmen in recent weeks, U.S. Rep. Cory Mills and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. U.S. Reps Matt Gaetz and Anna Paulina Luna also have endorsed Trump.
- Donalds’ endorsement is particularly notable because he has been considered a DeSantis ally. The Naples Republican introduced DeSantis at his victory party on election night last year.