Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida is expected to officially announce his candidacy for the 2024 White House race next week.
Sources familiar with the governor's decision confirmed that he would file formal paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to declare his presidential candidacy, coinciding with a meeting in Miami with top financial backers.
According to the Wall Street Journal, DeSantis' filing with the FEC will allow him to solicit donor donations at the Miami gathering, initiating a likely fundraising blitz. The governor's impressive fundraising record from his gubernatorial campaign, which included $110 million cash at the start of the spring, suggests that a significant amount could be transferred to Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting his expected presidential campaign.
While details of a formal campaign kick-off event have not been shared, it is expected to occur after the donor gathering. Recent moves by DeSantis, such as relocating his political team from the Republican Party of Florida headquarters to new offices and severing ties with Friends of Ron DeSantis, indicate his readiness to comply with federal campaign finance regulations and his preparation for a potential presidential campaign.
Although DeSantis has not made an official announcement, his actions in recent months, including multiple visits to early-voting presidential primary and caucus states, signal his intention to launch a 2024 campaign. During his visits to Iowa, where the caucuses lead the GOP nominating calendar, DeSantis was asked about an imminent announcement, to which he responded, "No news yet."
Recent Republican primary polling shows DeSantis as the top rival to former President Donald Trump, who is running for the White House for the third time. While Trump has criticized DeSantis recently, the governor has refrained from engaging in a public feud. The surveys place DeSantis in second place, ahead of other potential GOP contenders.
DeSantis' return to New Hampshire, the first primary and second overall contest in the GOP nominating calendar, further emphasizes his intent to compete in the 2024 race. As reported by Fox News, the governor's visit to the early primary state comes as part of his campaign strategy.
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