A week after seeing his first endorsed candidate lose a Republican primary this year, President Trump rebounded Tuesday when his pick for governor of Florida was also the choice of GOP voters.
Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., hugged Trump tight throughout the campaign and was rewarded with the president’s endorsement — and an early victory over state agriculture commissioner Adam Putnam.
DeSantis even ran an ad showing himself teaching his children how to “build the wall” with their blocks and reading to them from Trump’s classic The Art of the Deal.
“Congressman Ron DeSantis is a special person who has done an incredible job” Trump tweeted on Monday. “He is running in Tuesdays Primary for Governor of Florida….Strong on Crime, Borders and wants Low Taxes. He will be a great Governor and has my full and total Endorsement!”
Trump’s first loss in a Republican primary in 2018 came last week when investor Foster Friess lost the GOP gubernatorial nomination in Wyoming. Putnam tried to cast DeSantis as a Trump lackey who didn’t know enough about specifically Florida issues. It didn’t work out, as DeSantis won by nearly 20 points.
“As a veteran and conservative leader with blue-collar roots, Ron DeSantis is the best candidate to lead Florida forward,” said Republican Governors Association Chairman Gov. Bill Haslam of Tennessee in a statement Tuesday. “As governor, DeSantis will build upon Governor Rick Scott’s successful legacy and strengthen Florida’s economic progress by fighting tax hikes, expanding economic opportunity, improving education and keeping Florida as a top state for business, jobs and tourism. The Republican Governors Association is proud to support Ron DeSantis’s campaign to be the next governor of Florida.”
Scott, also a Trump ally, overwhelmingly won the primary to challenge Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., over token opposition Tuesday night. Both men were declared winners right after the polls closed statewide.
The general election contest figures to be close, in this swing state won by Trump in 2016. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a Bernie Sanders- and Tom Steyer-endorsed progressive, will be his Democratic opponent, having narrowly defeated Rep. Gwen Graham.
