The heavyweight of the Republican party was easily re-elected governor of Florida. This fervent conservative asserts himself as a potential rival to Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.
Republican Ron DeSantis, potential rival of Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination of 2024, was re-elected Governor of Florida on Tuesday, November 8 with a very comfortable lead.
Ron DeSantis remains governor, Marco Rubio still senator
Rising star of the hard right, this 40-year-old won without surprise or difficulty against ex-governor Charlie Crist, a former Republican who had changed parties. “We didn’t just win re-election, we redefined the political map“, rejoiced Ron DeSantis Tuesday evening, after the announcement of the results. “For me the fight has only just begun“, added the one to whom we lend presidential ambitions, which he has not yet confirmed.
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Republicans scored another victory in the key state on Tuesday, with Sen. Marco Rubio retaining his seat. Florida thus seems to confirm its Republican roots, bad news for the Democrats as the 2024 election approaches. Ron DeSantis, still little known to the general public a few years ago, has become one of the heavyweights of the Republican Party.
He recently caused controversy by claiming to send migrant planes to Martha’s Vineyard, a crested island in the northeast of the United States. He had thus joined a movement launched by the Republican governors of Texas and Arizona aimed at sending migrants to Democratic cities in the north and east of the country, a very political gesture intended to seduce their voters.
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Ron DeSantis facing Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential elections?
Very committed to education, the Republican also signed a law this year prohibiting the teaching of subjects related to sexual orientation or gender identity in primary school. The text, very controversial, was nicknamed by its opponents “Don’t say gay” (“don’t talk about gays“).
A former military man with a slick family man image, he offers a stark contrast to the tempestuous style of former President Donald Trump, who recently dubbed him “Ron-the-Moral“. The real estate magnate had however given him a major boost in the race for the seat of governor in 2018, by giving him his support.
The rivalry between the two Republicans recently escalated. Last weekend, the two campaigned in Florida, but were careful to avoid each other by attending separate events. If Ron DeSantis chose to run for the nomination, “I think he would make a mistake“, said Donald Trump on Monday. “I don’t think the base would appreciate it. I don’t think it would be good for the party“, he judged.
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