Nearly 100 Florida lawmakers back DeSantis for president, including most of local delegation

Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting a potential presidential bid by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, announced Wednesday that 99 Florida lawmakers − including most of those who represent Volusia and Flagler counties − have endorsed the governor.

There are 113 Republican lawmakers in the Florida Legislature.

The super PAC released a list of the 99 DeSantis-backing lawmakers, including both House Speaker Paul Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo on Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal also reported on Wednesday that DeSantis will file paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to enter the race next week, even as poll after poll show former President Donald Trump leading the GOP field with less than nine months remaining before the first Republican primaries.

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A Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week showed Trump ahead by 49% to DeSantis' 19%. The same poll showed both Republicans behind President Joe Biden, although DeSantis was down just 4 percentage points, as compared with Trump, down 6.

Who endorsed DeSantis and what are they saying?

All but one member of the Volusia-Flagler delegation endorsed DeSantis. Backers include Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Palm Coast; Rep. Tom Leek, R-Daytona Beach; Rep. Webster Barnaby, R-DeLand; Rep. Stan McClain, R-Ocala and Rep. Chase Tramont, R-Port Orange.

Prior to his 2018 election as governor, DeSantis represented the Volusia-Flagler area in the U.S. House of Representatives, making many connections with Republicans, including Leek, who served this past session as House Appropriations Committee chair.

"First, Gov. DeSantis is a principled conservative with a proven track record of fighting against federal government overreach and standing up for the freedom of Floridians," Leek said in a text message Thursday. "Ron and Casey are dear friends, whom I've known for the better part of the last decade. He'll make a great president and she will make a great first lady."

"Having known Ron DeSantis from his first days on the campaign trail for Congress over 10 years ago to working alongside him this session, it is a true pleasure to support my friend and our governor for any potential run for the presidency in 2024," Tramont said in a statement. "He has the passion, credentials, and vision to lead our country out of the Biden wilderness and back to the America we all know it can be."

Other Volusia-Flagler lawmakers didn't respond to a request for comment Wednesday night.

Passidomo, the Senate president from Naples, posted on Twitter that DeSantis offers the United States the "Florida Blueprint," the best vision for the future.

"Under his leadership, the Free State of Florida became a beacon of liberty and opportunity like never before, as families and businesses flocked from high-tax, lockdown states in search of a better way of life," Passidomo wrote. "Gov. DeSantis is exactly the kind of leader we need for our country, and I look forward to supporting him for president."

Sen. Tom Wright, R-New Smyrna Beach, was not listed by Never Back Down as one of the endorsers, making him one of just 14 Republican lawmakers to not endorse the governor. He did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday or Thursday.

PAC previews DeSantis' sales pitch

Erin Perrine, Never Back Down's communications director, called DeSantis "the fresh face of conservatism" who will unseat Biden.

"The widespread support from legislators in his home state underscores DeSantis' successful and effective leadership, which should serve as a blueprint for our country," Perrine said.

Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesperson, issued a statement alleging DeSantis "and his political cronies" threatened lawmakers if they didn't endorse his candidacy, which he characterized as "Swamp-like behavior."

“Those who he can’t control − including almost the entirety of the Florida federal congressional delegation − have endorsed President Trump because he’s the only candidate who can beat Joe Biden and take back the White House," Cheung said.

During the Legislative Session that ended earlier this month, GOP lawmakers endorsed DeSantis in another way, voting to lift the resign-to-run law for governors who want to be president, under a bill sponsored by Hutson, a St. Augustine senator whose district includes Flagler and part of Volusia counties. All other Florida elected officials seeking a different office are required to resign by the end of the year the election is held.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Which Volusia, Flagler lawmakers endorsed Ron DeSantis for president?