DeSantis, in First Foray Into Midterm Races, To Stump for Trump-Backed GOP Candidates

The string of rallies marks Mr. DeSantis’ first foray into high-profile races ahead of the midterms and gives him a chance to expand his national network ahead of a possible presidential bid in 2024.

AP/Phelan M. Ebenhack, file
Governor DeSantis at the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit at Tampa, Florida. AP/Phelan M. Ebenhack, file

In another sign of his growing national ambitions, Florida’s Governor DeSantis will hit the road beginning later this week to support a slew of Republican midterm candidates backed by President Trump.

Mr. DeSantis will headline rallies in Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio, and Pennsylvania for Trump-backed GOP hopefuls in the key swing states.

The Florida governor’s political star has been rising outside of his home turf, and the GOP is hoping to capitalize on his recent surge in national polls. While he has campaigned for other GOP candidates before, the string of rallies marks his first foray into high-profile races ahead of the November midterms as well as a chance to expand his national network ahead of a possible presidential bid in 2024.

Mr. DeSantis will be in Arizona Sunday to support Senate candidate Blake Masters and gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake. In New Mexico , he’ll stump for Representative Yvette Herrell and gubernatorial nominee Mark Ronchetti.

Mr. DeSantis will put his support behind Senate candidate JD Vance in Ohio. And he’ll headline in Pennsylvania for GOP gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, who is currently a state senator, on the same day.

Charlie Kirk, founder and president of Turning Point Action, which is organizing the rallies, told Fox News that Mr. DeSantis is “America’s governor and one of the most popular leaders in America.” 

“He has become the model for a new conservative movement that is willing to stand on principle and to actually fight on behalf of the values of his voters,” Mr. Kirk said.

Many of the candidates on the list took to Twitter after the announcement, retweeting the news and welcoming the attention.

“Thanks to Mark Kelly, Arizonans don’t have a secure border, a healthy economy, or safe streets,” Mr. Masters said. “By contrast, look at everything Ron DeSantis has done to keep Florida strong, safe, and free. Looking forward to welcoming Gov. DeSantis to Phoenix on Sunday.”

According to a press release from Turning Point Action, which is organizing the “Unite and Win” rallies, Mr. DeSantis is slated to be the keynote speaker in New Mexico and Arizona on August 14 before heading to Ohio and Pennsylvania on August 19.

Mr. DeSantis himself is up for re-election in November and will be opposed either by Democratic congressman Charlie Crist or Florida’s agriculture commissioner, Nikki Fried, depending on the outcome of the Democratic primary on August 23.


The New York Sun

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