Former President’s Hold on Florida Republicans Challenges Governor’s Standing

In a significant political development, Florida Republicans have eliminated the loyalty pledge that was a prerequisite for presidential candidates to secure a spot on the primary ballot. This move, driven by allies of former President Donald Trump, underscores his enduring dominance within the party, even in the state governed by his leading GOP rival, Governor Ron DeSantis.

Trump’s Influence on Florida GOP

The decision to revoke the loyalty pledge is a blow to Governor Ron DeSantis, whose associates made an unsuccessful attempt to retain the requirement. State Senator Joe Gruters, a Trump endorser and former Florida GOP chair, spearheaded the effort to rescind the pledge, which he stated passed with an “overwhelming voice vote.”

This year, the Republican Party of Florida introduced a new condition that mandated GOP presidential contenders to pledge support for the party’s eventual nominee to participate in the March 19 primary. It’s worth noting that Trump had previously rejected a similar pledge proposed by the Republican National Committee for participation in primary debates, stating, “Why would I sign it? I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for president. So right there, there’s a problem.”

Trump’s Stronghold in Florida

This latest victory in the loyalty pledge dispute underscores Trump’s considerable influence over many Florida Republicans, seemingly overshadowing Governor DeSantis despite the latter’s tenure since 2019. While DeSantis enjoys support from a significant portion of Republicans in the state legislature, most of Florida’s GOP congressional delegation has endorsed Trump. A July poll conducted by Florida Atlantic University indicated that Trump held a 20-percentage-point lead over DeSantis among GOP voters in Florida.

Professor Kevin Wagner of FAU’s political science department noted, “This persistent support continues to bolster Trump’s strong and steady position within the party.”

Senator Gruters expressed that there would have been significant backlash if the Florida GOP had attempted to exclude Trump from the ballot due to his refusal to sign the loyalty pledge. He emphasized that the party’s decision was driven by a desire to avoid creating unnecessary obstacles for qualified presidential candidates and highlighted the party’s affinity for the former president.

“The president is battling a lot of different fights on a lot of fronts, certainly it shouldn’t be with the party,” Gruters added.

DeSantis’ Presidential Prospects

Governor Ron DeSantis, once touted as a formidable GOP challenger to Trump, has encountered a decline in the polls and faced campaign turmoil since his May launch. National polling places DeSantis far behind Trump in the GOP primary, with significant deficits in early voting states. His presidential aspirations largely hinge on a strong performance in his home state of Florida, and losing it could spell the end of his campaign.

The abandonment of the loyalty pledge by party activists may signal underlying fractures in DeSantis’ base of support within Florida, further complicating his bid for the presidency.