KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis faced a challenging homecoming at a Republican Party gathering in Florida on Saturday as he was upstaged by a warm welcome for his 2024 presidential rival, Donald Trump. Many attendees at the event, known as the “Freedom Summit,” showed their support for Trump by wearing Trump-themed clothing, and Trump himself was given the most prominent speaking spot.
Additionally, seven Florida state lawmakers are expected to endorse Trump at the event, including five who had previously endorsed DeSantis. The endorsements represent a significant blow to DeSantis’s campaign, which has struggled this year in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination. Commenting on the endorsements, DeSantis dismissed them as politics as usual and pointed out that he still has more endorsements than any other candidate in Florida.
The defections make political sense given Trump’s wide lead in the GOP race, even though a large share of Trump voters rank DeSantis as their second choice, according to Brad Coker, president of Mason-Dixon Opinion Research. However, Coker added that the endorsements are unlikely to change the minds of most voters.
The Republican presidential candidates, with the exception of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, are expected to speak at the event and declare their candidacy for the Florida primary. Trump, who has chosen to forgo the debates thus far, is not expected to participate in the next presidential debate in Miami.
During his speech, DeSantis did not mention Trump by name but called for the Republican Party to prioritize winning elections and policy fights. The audience responded more enthusiastically to DeSantis’s speech than to any other candidate.
Governor DeSantis’s political fortunes have taken a hit as some Florida Republicans have switched their allegiance from him to Trump. However, DeSantis and his allies have tried to distinguish themselves from Trump by criticizing his comments and legal troubles. At the summit, this approach did not resonate with the audience, as former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie were booed when they criticized Trump.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) took a different approach and praised both Trump and DeSantis while also differentiating himself from them. Meanwhile, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) received loud applause when he mentioned his endorsement of Trump.
Overall, Trump’s presence was strongly felt at the summit, with a video claiming the 2020 election was stolen from him kicking off the event and vendors selling Trump-themed merchandise. Despite DeSantis’s popularity as governor, some attendees believe that anyone challenging Trump should be ashamed of themselves.
In conclusion, DeSantis faces a challenging political landscape in Florida as he is up against Trump’s widespread support among Republicans. While endorsements from state lawmakers boost Trump’s campaign, it remains to be seen how this will affect the race going forward.