Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is slated to announce his candidacy for the 2024 presidential race in a Twitter Spaces event alongside CEO Elon Musk. This anticipated declaration aligns with his official filing of notice with the Federal Election Commission and preludes a two-day fundraising campaign in Miami. DeSantis, 44, has consistently ranked as the most formidable opponent to ex-President Donald Trump, 76, despite trailing by double digits in most national polls.
LIZ LIVE REACTS: DeSantis makes a MAJOR announcement with Elon Musk
DeSantis has carved out a national reputation for his fervent engagement in culture wars and for adopting staunch conservative positions on contentious issues such as COVID-19 vaccination mandates and the teaching of gender and sexuality in schools.
DeSantis has drawn acclaim from Republican grassroots for his legislative actions, such as signing a bill prohibiting most abortions post-six weeks of pregnancy, and another law permitting Florida citizens to carry concealed firearms without a license. His public feud with Disney, which he seeks to divest of its unique local governing status after the company voiced opposition to a bill limiting teachings on sexuality and gender identity in primary grades, has also attracted significant attention.
In the lead-up to his presidential run announcement, DeSantis pondered his potential impact as president, especially regarding the Supreme Court. During a speech to the National Religious Broadcasters Convention, he mentioned his aspiration to secure a 7-2 conservative majority on the Supreme Court.
DeSantis has a substantial financial foundation for his campaign, amassing more than $110 million in donations through his state-level campaign funds and related political action committees.
