With his job approval rating at 40%, his state in the midst of an outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, and record state budget deficits, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has said he isn’t planning on running for president in 2024, according to Politico.
Facing a reelection challenge in 2022 for the governorship, DeSantis is a strong ally of President Trump, who is currently trailing in Florida polls of the presidential race in November, even though Trump now identifies as “Florida Man.”
Saying that it’s a “safe assumption” that he’ll run for a second term as governor, DeSantis said, “I’m planning that, I haven’t announced yet, but I think it’s a safe assumption that I will do it.”
DeSantis has come under fire for not instituting regulations to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic such as mask requirements. His ordering businesses and schools to open during an outbreak have led to complaints from school administrators and teachers, as well as local leaders who are dealing with community spread of the virus.