DeSantis withholds endorsement in Florida governor’s race as primary nears
ORLANDO, Fla. —
With less than two weeks until Florida’s primary election, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he won’t endorse anyone in the Republican race to replace him just yet.
“I’m not involved in any primaries,” DeSantis said during an event Thursday in southwest Florida. “If I feel the need, if someone out there is really doing what I think it takes and would do very well, then I’m happy to get involved.”
Some of the top Republican candidates hoping for an endorsement include Congressman Byron Donalds; DeSantis’ second-in-command, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins; Paul Renner, former speaker of the Florida House; and businessman James Fishback.
“There’s different candidates that are doing some good things. Some candidates, you know, aren’t doing others and this and that,” DeSantis said.
During the event, DeSantis said Renner would make a good governor and has a “great record of policy.” But the most difficult part for a candidate, he argues, is getting enough recognition, something DeSantis said is hard to do in a state like Florida.
“I mean, it’s really tough to get known, and so that’s been a threshold. These candidates have to reach that. And then if they reach that, then I can see, ‘Is that something I agree with? Do I agree with them on the issues or how you go from there?'” DeSantis said.
Whichever Republican candidate wins the primary is expected to face Democrat David Jolly in the November general election.
WESH 2 reached out to the campaigns for a response to DeSantis’ comments.
Paul Renner:
“I appreciate the Governor’s comments and have tremendous respect for him. We stood shoulder to shoulder advancing the Free State of Florida agenda. I’m the only candidate with a personal stake in carrying that legacy forward — because in many ways, it’s my legacy, too.”
James Fishback:
“Ron DeSantis is the greatest Governor in Florida history. He is wise to let the voters decide who the Republican nominee will be.”
Byron Donalds:
“In 12 days, Republican voters will decide the GOP primary. I look forward to working with Gov. DeSantis to keep Florida as the best state in America. We both agree that David Jolly and the Democrats cannot lead Florida into the future — his high-tax open-borders agenda would make life less affordable and less safe for Florida’s working families.”
WESH 2 has not yet received a statement from Collins’ campaign.