Rep. Jessica Baker endorses DeSantis for president

Eric Daugherty contributed to this report.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FLV) – Rep. Jessica Baker, R-Jacksonville, endorsed Gov. Ron DeSantis for president in 2024.

DeSantis has not yet formally announced a candidacy, however, he has received endorsements from politicians across the country.

NBC News confirmed Tuesday that he summoned his top donors to meetings in Miami on May 25 in conjunction with his expected campaign launch.

“I am proud to endorse Gov. Ron DeSantis for President of the United States,” Baker said in a statement. “I have known the Governor for more than a decade going back to his first run for office and have watched as he has led boldly for the people of Florida, making our state a model for the rest of the nation.”

“He never backs down in fighting for our shared conservative values,” she said. “Most importantly to me is his devotion to his family as a husband and father.”

“Gov. Ron DeSantis is the right person to lead our nation and party into the future and he has my full support.”

Baker had vied for the Florida speaker of the House seat, along with Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, for 2028.  

The publisher of Florida Politics, Peter Schorsch, previously reported that the speaker’s race represented a proxy battle between Trump and DeSantis, with Baker representing ties with the former president.

Baker was elected to the Florida House in 2022 and has held a career as a prosecutor.

During her first legislative session, the Jacksonville lawmaker carried priority legislation to enact the death penalty for child rapists.

Baker’s legislation was given strong support by DeSantis and Speaker of the House Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast. DeSantis signed the legislation into law May 1.

When answering a reporter question recently, the governor said he has been “pretty busy” following the 2023 Legislative Session.

“I may have something to say about the overall landscape for ’24, but stay tuned on that,” DeSantis said.