On Tuesday, some prominent Republicans in the Florida legislature stated that they would be open to changing state election law if it meant that Governor Ron DeSantis could run for president without leaving his current position.
When asked about potential changes to the state’s so-called “resign to run” election law in the upcoming legislative session, Florida House Speaker Paul Renner responded during a press conference with reporters at the state capitol by saying, “I think that’s a great idea.” The press conference took place in the state capitol. “I believe that’s something we should look into.”
Kathleen Passidomo, the President of the Senate, reiterated the sentiments expressed by Renner, stating that it would be an “honor” to have a candidate from Florida run for the presidency. She shared Renner’s opinion that it would be a “wonderful idea” to alter the legal system. She stated, “If an individual from Florida, a Florida governor, is interested in running for president, I think he should be able to do it.” “I think he should be allowed to do it.”
If DeSantis were to run for president, he would be required to step down from his position as governor of Florida under the state’s present laws; this would be the case even if he were to lose the election for the presidency. According to The Miami Herald, candidates have ten days to quit after they qualify for federal office. However, how this is defined regarding the presidency isn’t straightforward and has been open to multiple interpretations.
If DeSantis runs for president, wins the presidency, or secures the candidacy of the Republican Party, he may be required to resign from his position as governor of Florida. “Any officer who qualifies for federal public office must resign from the office he or she currently holds if the terms, or any part thereof, run concurrently with each other,” the law states in its text. “Any officer who qualifies for federal public office must resign from the office he or she currently holds.”
In either case, if the legislature provided some explanation, it would be far simpler for DeSantis to run for president and, in the event that he was unsuccessful, to resume his position as governor of Florida. In 2008, when then-Governor Charlie Crist, a former Republican, was a running mate contender for Republican presidential candidate John McCain, the legislature relaxed the law. Still, in 2010, they altered it again. This occurred during the same period.
DeSantis has not attempted to quell rumours that he would run for president, and he has not stated whether or not he will complete his full term as governor of Florida. Both of these actions have fueled widespread conjecture.
There is an effort being made by Republican funders and media on the right to convince him to enter the race. A tracking survey by Morning Consult and Politico published on November 15 found that 33% of possible Republican primary voters said they would vote for DeSantis today. However, he is still 14 percentage points behind former President Donald Trump, who officially launched his presidential campaign in mid-November.
In the primary election of 2024, DeSantis might compete against several other candidates. Other potential candidates include former Vice President Mike Pence, former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, Governor of South Dakota Kristi L. Noem, Former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Mike Pompeo, Senators Tim Scott of South Carolina and Ted Cruz of Texas, and Former Governor of Maryland Larry Hogan.
On Election Day, DeSantis commanded a 20-point victory in Florida, and along with it came a Republican supermajority in the Florida House and Senate. This majority is expected to be submissive to the governor’s agenda because of DeSantis’s dominating victory. On Tuesday, Renner and Passidomo were elected to their respective leadership positions. Following their victories, they answered questions from the press.
It is unclear whether DeSantis would want to take on the taxing challenge of running for president while also serving as the governor of the state with the third-highest population in the United States. When he ran for governor, DeSantis tendered his resignation from his seat in the House of Representatives. If he were to step down from his position as governor, his lieutenant governor, Jeanette Nuez, would take over and make history as the first woman to lead the state of Florida in that capacity.
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