[US Midterm Elections] Republican 'Presidential Contender' DeSantis Wins Re-election... Will He Run for Presidency?

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Josel Gina] Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida and a leading presidential contender within the U.S. Republican Party, secured re-election in the midterm elections on the 8th (local time). He is considered the strongest rival to former President Donald Trump in the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential race within the Republican Party.

According to the Associated Press, with 71% of Florida's precincts reporting, Governor DeSantis was confirmed the winner with 57% of the vote, defeating Democratic candidate and former Governor Charlie Crist. The New York Times (NYT) also reported, "Governor DeSantis has won re-election," adding that "he has solidified Republican control in Florida, once considered a battleground state, and strengthened his reputation as a presidential contender."

As a presidential hopeful, Governor DeSantis built support among conservatives by implementing conservative policies opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates during his tenure. Especially amid the various legal risks surrounding former President Trump, voices supporting DeSantis as an alternative have grown louder recently. This month, Ken Griffin, CEO of Citadel, a hedge fund that supports Republican political funding, publicly declared his support. NYT reported that DeSantis raised about $200 million for this election, an enormous sum that could serve as seed money for a presidential campaign.

On election night, Governor DeSantis held a party at the Tampa Convention Center. Local media evaluated this event as more of a preview for his 2024 presidential run than merely a celebration of his re-election. Reports noted that DeSantis was confident of victory early in the midterms and recently attended numerous political rallies not only for his own campaign but also for other Republican candidates in different states.

Close aides of Governor DeSantis have indicated that he is considering a presidential run. However, DeSantis has yet to announce any plans for the 2024 presidential election. He also declined to answer questions at campaign events about whether he would complete his current term as governor.

Former President Trump, who has strongly hinted at a 2024 presidential bid, appears to have begun actively countering Governor DeSantis following the midterm elections. On election day, after voting at a polling station in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump told reporters, "I don't know if (DeSantis) will run in 2024," adding, "If he runs, he could get badly hurt." This was a continuation of his strong remarks in an interview with Fox News and others the day before, where he said, "If he runs, he could get very badly hurt," and "I probably know more about him than anyone, maybe even his wife," applying strong pressure.

On the 6th, during a campaign event in Pennsylvania, former President Trump mockingly nicknamed Governor DeSantis "Ron DeSanctimonious." The nickname combines DeSantis’s name with the adjective "sanctimonious," meaning 'pretending to be devout' or 'hypocritically pious.' Local media emphasized that the term is generally used in a derogatory sense, describing Trump's remark as a "clever attack" and "his first public derogatory nickname" for DeSantis.

Meanwhile, former President Trump has effectively set the timing for his presidential campaign announcement, stating he will make a "very big announcement" at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach on the 15th. With the Republican Party expected to win in this election, it appears he plans to ride the momentum of this red wave to launch his presidential bid.