Welcome to the 2024 Revenge Tour! The feud between former President Donald Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis has reached new heights as Trump gains the upper hand by exploiting divisions among Florida Republicans. As the 2024 campaign heats up in Florida, the complicated relationship between DeSantis, Trump, and the state’s GOP will be on full display.
The tension between DeSantis and his party members is evident as Republican lawmakers flip their support to Trump and openly criticize DeSantis. State Rep. Randy Fine, the state’s only Jewish Republican lawmaker, has publicly questioned DeSantis’ support for the Jewish community. This rift within the party has given Trump an advantage in winning over Florida Republicans.
At a state party event on Saturday, Trump, DeSantis, and other GOP candidates will address Florida Republicans, measuring their support. DeSantis will need to compete with Trump’s allies, Reps. Byron Donalds and Matt Gaetz, who will be warming up the crowd before Trump’s keynote address.
The following week, Trump will host Florida Republicans at Mar-a-Lago while DeSantis attends fundraisers in the state. Meanwhile, lawmakers will return to Tallahassee at DeSantis’ urging to pass new sanctions against Iran and address the state’s property insurance crisis. However, DeSantis’ influence in the state has taken a hit, and his attempts to reassert himself have been met with resistance from enemies he has accumulated over the years.
While DeSantis downplays these challenges, his allies are preparing for more state lawmakers to switch their allegiance to Trump. State Sen. Joe Gruters, a former state party chair who has been at odds with DeSantis, is actively recruiting more Republicans for Trump. However, DeSantis still maintains the support of most elected officials due to his line-item veto authority.
DeSantis’ campaign insists that he remains well-positioned in Florida, citing his track record of delivering results. However, many of the individuals working to prevent DeSantis from reaching the White House are former staffers who have personal animosity toward him. These ex-DeSantis operatives, now part of Trump’s campaign, have inside knowledge of how to undermine the governor’s efforts.
The relationship between DeSantis and Florida’s consultant class has soured, leaving him with fewer experienced campaign operatives compared to Trump. As the race for the 2024 Republican nomination intensifies, both candidates will rely on their teams to secure victory in Florida, a crucial state in the primary race.
The ongoing feud between Trump and DeSantis demonstrates the fragmented nature of the GOP in Florida. As the Revenge Tour continues, the battle for supremacy within the party will unfold on the national stage, with Florida as the battleground.
