JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s Republican Congress members are beginning to line up behind their picks for the 2024 Republican Presidential Nomination and so far, Former President Donald Trump has the edge among Florida’s Republican delegation.
Of Florida’s 20 Republican US Representatives, seven have endorsed Former President Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP Presidential nomination.
Among them, are Representatives Matt Gaetz, Cory Mills, Anna Paulina Luna, Greg Steube, Byron Donalds, Brian Mast, and Northeast Florida’s John Rutherford.
DeSantis has secured the backing of only one Florida Congressmember: Former Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee, who was appointed to her previous position by DeSantis.
“That’s not great. It’s kind of like losing game one of a seven-game series,” said UNF political science professor Dr. Michael Binder.
Binder argues the endorsements don’t carry much weight on their own, but the trend toward Trump could reflect who Republicans are considering to be the safest bet to win the nomination.
“Because, as we all know, both DeSantis and Trump have long memories about who supports them and who doesn’t,” said Binder.
But Binder noted 12 Florida Republican US Representatives and the state’s two US Senators have not yet endorsed Trump or DeSantis.
Among those yet to endorse are Northeast Florida’s Aaron Bean, Kat Cammack and Michael Waltz.
We reached out to all three and asked if they’d decided who to back, but none responded.
Binder suggested the fact DeSantis hasn’t officially announced a run could be contributing to lawmakers’ hesitancy to publicly support his candidacy.
“What’s the incentive of the elected official? You haven’t even said that you’re gonna run yet. So, what if you decide not to run if the winds turn against you and then you’re really left hung out to dry,” said Binder.
While Binder argued the endorsements of Florida’s Congressional members aren’t likely to sway Iowa, New Hampshire, or South Carolina voters en mass, failure to secure the backing of elected officials in one’s own state could potentially scare off big money donors.
And that, he said, could be a difference maker for a Presidential run.
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