Team DeSantis shoots down rumor of running for Senate against Rick Scott, spread by Trump

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign dismissed an allegation repeated by former President Donald Trump that the governor will run against Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott and drop out of the presidential race.

The former president said “rumors are strong in political circles” when repeating the claim.

“Ron DeSanctimonious, whose Presidential run is a shambles, and whose poll numbers have absolutely crashed, putting him 3rd and 4th in some states, will be dropping out of the Presidential race in order to run, in Florida, against Rick Scott for Senate,” Trump continued. “Now that’s an interesting one, isn’t it?”

DeSantis campaign press secretary Bryan Griffin called Trump’s post “fake news.”

“Clearly, Donald Trump and his army of consultants are panicked about @RonDeSantis‘ winning debate performance and the strong momentum that has followed,” Griffin said. “They know this is a two-man race, and we will carry this on to a win in this presidential primary.”

“Instead of pushing fake news from New Jersey, the Trump campaign should be focused on getting their candidate on the campaign trail in Iowa and on the debate stage before it’s too late,” he said.

The Florida governor jumped into the presidential race in late-May and has faced an uphill battle with falling national poll numbers since his entry.

Nonetheless, DeSantis has continued his campaign with strong on-the-ground appearances in states like Iowa, where he intends to visit all 99 counties, along with traveling to places like New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Scott recently kicked up his 2024 reelection bid to the Senate – first elected in 2018 to the position, the same time DeSantis was elected governor.

A rumor also spread that Scott might decide to run for president, a move that would have directly challenged DeSantis’ launch from Florida.

“It’s flattering that some have mentioned the possibility of Senator Scott running for President, but as he’s said many times, he’s running for re-election to the Senate,” a senior advisor to Scott told Florida’s Voice when the rumor gained traction in June.

DeSantis was scheduled to be on the campaign trail this week, but because of approaching projected major Hurricane Idalia, he will remain in Florida to direct and oversee disaster response.