Fla. lawmakers Ben Albritton and Danny Perez back DeSantis for 2024

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Florida Senate Majority Leader Ben Albritton, R-Bartow, and Rep. Daniel Perez, R-Miami, announced they are backing Gov. Ron DeSantis for president in 2024.

DeSantis has not officially said whether he would run for president, keeping his script to a “stay tuned” mantra when asked.

“Governor Ron DeSantis has proven to be a formidable leader for the families of our state and a trusted partner in the legislative process,” Albritton said. “He fights for faith, family, freedom, opportunity and life, and stands up to the liberal elite and woke corporations. I am proud to support him.”

Perez is the chair of the Florida House Rules Committee and is expected to serve as speaker of the House in the near future.

“Governor DeSantis has made the free state of Florida the envy of the nation. From keeping Florida open and making sure Floridians can live, work and raise their families free from government overreach to putting our law enforcement and first responders first at every turn, Ron DeSantis is a leader who will never tire or back down from a challenge,” Perez said.

“America will be well served by bringing this type of results-oriented leadership to Washington to get our nation back on track.”

Florida’s two top lawmakers, House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, also recently announced their support for DeSantis in 2024.

“There is no greater vision for the future of our country than the ‘Florida Blueprint’ Governor DeSantis spearheaded over the last several years,” Passidomo said. “Under his leadership during the pandemic, the Free State of Florida became a beacon of liberty and opportunity like never before, as families and businesses flocked from high-tax, lockdown states in search of a better way of life.”

Renner pointed to the governor’s “proven record” on conservative issues.

“Gov. DeSantis has a proven record of delivering on the pro-family, pro-economic ideals that not only will keep Florida free but will be of critical importance in a 2024 presidential election,” Renner said.

“As Gov. DeSantis makes his final decision to run for higher office, it would be my honor to endorse his candidacy for President of the United States.”

Under Passidomo and Renner, both chambers of the Florida Legislature, controlled by a Republican supermajority, approved legislation that clarifies Florida’s law on “resign-to-run” requirements.

It has not yet been signed.