Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is popular among the GOP base, some calling him “America’s Governor,” and now, it seems like some Democrats support DeSantis as well.
A poll that took place in 2019 and one of the few surveys covering this topic showed that 64 percent of Florida voters approve of DeSantis, while 24 percent disapprove. The survey also showed that 85 percent of Republicans approved, while 10 percent disapproved. 60 percent of Independents approved, 23 percent disapproved, and 46 percent of Democrats approved, while 39 percent disapproved. Since then, Republican voter registration surpassed Democrat voter registration in the Sunshine State.
On “Fox & Friends First,” Palm Beach County Commissioner Dave Kerner endorsed DeSantis. Kerner is a Florida Democrat.
He said:
“I’ve been a registered Democrat since I registered to vote at the age of 18. I don’t really see it as going against my party. I’m a Floridian, an American first. But there’s a confluence of reasons. The trajectory of our state, which I spoke about in my endorsement, his support for law enforcement, his management of the COVID 19 pandemic. There is’s a host of reasons why I endorsed him.”
Kerner added:
“There has been a lot of that, what I call sort of shadow support for sure. Obviously, Governor DeSantis is doing an incredible job in Florida. He’s America’s governor, but there is a lot of support out there. And it’s been referred to me by many people that have called me or texted me. You know, it’s an act of courage, what you did and you should be proud. And it’s not about what I did. It’s about the governor’s record of service in the state of Florida. But ultimately, it should not be an act of courage and should not be seen as an act of courage.”
That’s high praise for DeSantis from Kerner, and it could be a sign of things to come in 2022 and possibly 2024 if DeSantis decides to run for President. DeSantis defeated Gillum by less than 33 thousand votes. However, due to his performance as Governor, more people are moving to Florida, more Floridians are registering as Republicans, and now Democrats are supporting and endorsing DeSantis; he should be able to defeat Charlie Crist by a larger margin.
A big win in November for DeSantis could set him up for a 2024 White House bid. It remains unclear whether former President Donald Trump will run again, but DeSantis will likely run for President in 2024 or 2028. When he does, he will be a formidable candidate and one that Democrats do not want to see.