Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has so far kept quiet about potential Presidential ambitions.
When Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist pressed him on the issue during their debate for the midterm elections, he famously said that the only “worn-out old donkey” he was looking to “put out to pasture” was Crist.
WATCH: At debate, Florida Gov. DeSantis asked about a possible run for President: "The only worn-out old donkey I'm looking to put out to pasture is Charlie Christ."
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) October 24, 2022
Still, speculation about his presidential ambitions has dominated headlines.
After the midterm elections ended, pollsters have already pivoted to Republican primary polls for 2024.
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A Quinnipiac poll released today had DeSantis ahead by 2 points over former President Donald Trump.
Who would you prefer to win the Republican nomination for president in 2024
DeSantis 45% (+2)
Trump 43%.@QuinnipiacPoll, Republican RV, 11/16-20https://t.co/qqa55cUJEQ
— Political Polls (@Politics_Polls) November 22, 2022
Republicans in the Florida House and Senate appear ready to make it easier for DeSantis to run for President.
Both the new Speaker of the House and Senate President said that they were open to loosening current laws that require current government officials in Florida to resign their office after announcing their candidacy for another office.
The move would allow DeSantis to remain, Governor of Florida while running for President.
Florida’s top Republican leaders say they're willing to change state law to smooth the way for Gov. Ron DeSantis to run for president in 2024 https://t.co/PXWT76dX3T
— POLITICO (@politico) November 22, 2022
Florida’s new House Speaker, Paul Renner, said it was a “good idea” for Florida to write more consistent laws about the issues that would allow people to keep their seats while running for other offices.
“You will find me to always try to hone toward being principled and consistent,” Renner said. “This is one area that, going back in history — you don’t have to go very far on a kind of two-second Google search — we’ve been totally inconsistent on. If you think that’s based on anything in your hypothetical, you would be right, and I’ll be very open and transparent about that.”
Under current Florida law, DeSantis would be forced to give up his position even if he lost his presidential bid.
Under Florida law it appears that DeSantis would have to resign from his post as governor even if he lost the presidency. https://t.co/UwTPH6CvVD
— Politics Insider (@PoliticsInsider) November 22, 2022
Senate President Kathleen Passidomo agreed with Speaker Renner.
“If Speaker Renner thinks it’s a good idea,” Passidomo jokingly said, “I think it’s a good idea.’
“When you think about it, if an individual who is from Florida, who is a Florida Governor, is running for President, I think he should run and do it. I really do.”
While Trump was quick to announce his candidacy just a week after the midterm elections, other candidates, including DeSantis, are likely to wait to declare until anywhere from six months to a year from now.
Trump is the first candidate to officially announce for 2024.
Now comes peak time for those who want to join, but we have had several declare before in past ears. By the great @kt_prryhttps://t.co/a4A2CQxRg8— Chiqui Esteban (@chiquiesteban) November 17, 2022
A Washington Post analysis found that the median time for candidates to announce that they are running for President is about a year and a half before the general election, meaning that more announcements will likely come in the late spring and early summer.
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