Trump’s Florida Endorsements Embarrass DeSantis—And Show His Weakness, Observers Say

Topline

Former President Donald Trump keeps racking up endorsements from Republicans in Congress as he wages his third run for the White House, including several from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ home state—what some politicos are calling a sign of weakness in DeSantis’ political acumen and a nod to Trump’s aggressive courtship style.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis waves as he departs an event Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in Washington. (AP … [+] Photo/Alex Brandon)

Key Facts

Three GOP Florida Congress members endorsed Trump this week over DeSantis for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, bringing Trump’s total to seven, though 12 other Florida Republican representatives have yet to say who they are backing, along with the state’s two GOP senators.

Only three Republican congress members—Reps. Tom Massie (Ky.), Chip Roy (Texas) and Laurel Lee (Fla.)—and neither senator have endorsed DeSantis.

In a particularly biting rebuff of DeSantis, Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) endorsed Trump moments after leaving a Tuesday meet and greet with DeSantis on Capitol Hill, tweeting “after careful consideration and a positive meeting with Governor DeSantis, I have decided to endorse President [Trump]

for 2024.”

Trump’s ability to swoop up early endorsements is indicative of a difference in style and tactic from DeSantis, politicos have observed: Trump has spent more time building personal relationships compared to DeSantis, who was known as more of a loner during his six years in Congress serving alongside many of the members who announced plans to back Trump.

At least two GOP Congress members, Trump-backer Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who has yet to endorse, told Politico and CNN that DeSantis has not returned their multiple attempts to connect, while Capitol Hill sources told CNN other lawmakers were miffed that DeSantis assigned aides to seek endorsements, rather than reaching out himself.

Contra

The 2024 presidential primary is still more than a year away and the final candidate field has yet to unfold. Only three other GOP competitors to Trump have formally announced: former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Some lawmakers who attended the DeSantis reception cited the race’s early stage in withholding an endorsement. “I don’t see the upside to endorsing right now. The field is still forming,” an unnamed GOP lawmaker told CNN.

Big Number

11. That’s the number of open presidential primary races candidates with the most endorsements have won, out of 17 since 1972, according to FiveThirtyEight, which noted in rolling out its 2024 endorsement tracker that 2016 was an anomaly. Jeb Bush received more endorsements from Republicans that year, but Trump won the party’s nomination and the presidency.

What To Watch For

Trump will host a dinner with the Florida congressional delegation on Thursday at Mar-A-Lago and is expected to roll out more endorsements from Florida lawmakers in the coming days, CNN reported.

Key Background

Trump’s advisers and allies on Capitol Hill have been working the phones to secure endorsements from lawmakers, CNN reported, noting that House GOP Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik(R-NY) and Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) and Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) are among those who have been lobbying their colleagues on Trump’s behalf. DeSantis, meanwhile, has just begun to ramp up his national political activity ahead of next year’s primary and has made clear that his primary focus is governing Florida. He is not expected to announce a run until after the conclusion of the Florida legislative session at the end of May.

Tangent

Trump and his allies have suggested DeSantis’ political future is more secure if he stays out of the presidential race and focuses on governing Florida, where he enjoys a 59% approval rating, according to an April Mason-Dixon poll. “Floridians want him focused on Florida,” Steube told Politico, “which is the job they elected him to do.”