Billionaire Republican megadonor Ken Griffin said he is ready to support a presidential bid by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024, drawing early battle lines in the competition for deep-pocketed backers.
Griffin, who runs the investment firm Citadel, has given lavishly to Republican candidates this cycle and is expected to play a significant role in the next elections. His support could help cement DeSantis’s place as the Republican front-runner in a possible White House bid.
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“I think it’s time to move on to the next generation,” Griffin said in an interview with Politico published hours before the governor and former President Donald Trump were set to hold dueling Florida events.
Griffin told the outlet that he didn’t know whether DeSantis planned to enter the race but praised the governor’s “tremendous” record, adding that “our country would be well-served by him as president.”
Looming over the decision is the shadow of former President Donald Trump, who has teased another run for president while continuing to stoke a rivalry with DeSantis.
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Griffin ruled out backing Trump last year. His latest comments suggest an interest in bolstering DeSantis as other candidates start to position themselves toward a possible run.
Griffin was a leading donor to DeSantis’s reelection campaign and the third largest donor to federal candidates this cycle, according to federal data compiled by Open Secrets. His total donations to Republicans exceeded $68 million.
