DeSantis racks up dozens of early endorsements in New Hampshire, Iowa

2024 Election, Politics

By Eric Daugherty

Published May. 16, 2023, 11:22 a.m. ET | Updated May. 16, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis visits Staten Island, N.Y., to speak with law enforcement officers, slam "anti-police politicians," Feb. 20, 2023. (Photo/Team DeSantis)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis received support from a plethora of lawmakers in both Iowa and New Hampshire after recent visits.

Friday, ahead of his visit to Iowa, 37 Iowa state legislators endorsed a potential 2024 bid from DeSantis.

So far, in Iowa, DeSantis has obtained more than a third of the state Republican legislative caucus.

According to POLITICO, that rate “far outpaces” any amount of support received during the 2016 GOP primary.

DeSantis spent the weekend speaking in Iowa. Former President Donald Trump was scheduled to hold a rally, but it was ultimately canceled due to tornado concerns.

Then, on Tuesday, the super PAC supporting DeSantis for president, Never Back Down, released a list of more than 50 lawmakers in New Hampshire who endorsed the governor for 2024.

Notably, that list includes New Hampshire House Majority Leader Jason Osborne.

NBC reported that of those New Hampshire Republicans who endorsed DeSantis, four switched from Trump.

DeSantis has not announced a presidential bid yet.

At a bill-signing press conference Tuesday, DeSantis hit Trump on abortion.

#BREAKING: DeSantis hits Trump on suggesting the six-week abortion ban may be "too harsh"

"As a Florida resident, he didn't give an answer about 'would you sign the heartbeat bill that Florida did?' […] He won't answer whether he would sign it or not." pic.twitter.com/2yYoYZSt7F
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) May 16, 2023

Also early this week, DeSantis’ press secretary, Bryan Griffin, announced he is stepping down to join the governor’s political team, separate from his official state office.

“I believe that Governor DeSantis is the only leader who can see us to victory at this critical moment in American history,” Griffin said. “If I can be even a small part of the revival and restoration of our great nation, then I am prepared to give it my all.”

The departure came as reports emerged of the governor’s “unofficial campaign staff” relocating out of the Republican Party of Florida’s Tallahassee-based office.