Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made a trip to Washington, DC this week in a bid to rally congressional support. That trip, however, was overshadowed by another development: former President Donald Trump picking up a parade of new endorsements, including those of several lawmakers from DeSantis’s own state.
As of Wednesday, Trump has locked down seven endorsements of 20 Florida House Republicans, compared to one that DeSantis has secured. Reps. John Rutherford, Brian Mast, and Greg Steube all announced this week that they were backing Trump in the presidential race, while Rep. Laurel Lee announced that she would be supporting DeSantis.
In another especially stinging development, Texas Rep. Lance Gooden shared his support for the former president immediately after a meeting with DeSantis, noting, “there is no doubt in my mind that … Trump is the only leader who can save America from the leftist onslaught.”
All told, Trump boasts 45 House Republican endorsements — while the Florida governor — who’s yet to formally announce his campaign — has three.
Of course, it is still early in the primary process and many lawmakers have declined to choose a side until DeSantis makes his run official. Additionally, the effects of endorsements on voters’ decisions tend to be on the margins, according to political scientists. Still, the announcements this week underscore the enduring strength of Trump’s position among Republicans as the primary heats up. DeSantis is widely viewed as Trump’s chief competitor in a GOP primary, but recent endorsements indicate just how receptive some members still are to the former president’s candidacy — despite the pitfalls it could pose.
“Trump is just building a lead at this point. It’s a lead in the polls, it’s a lead in endorsements, it’s threatening to be a lead in donations,” Michael McDonald, a political scientist at the University of Florida, told Vox.
Trump’s latest endorsements were also announced as…
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