Ron DeSantis is reportedly preparing to announce his official campaign for 2024 president next week, after months of anticipation.
Two people with knowledge of Mr DeSantis’ plans spoke out The Wall Street Journal the governor of Florida plans to file formal papers with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on Thursday, 25 May.
The filing date coincided with a donor meeting in Miami, according to the report.
The Independent Mr. DeSantis’ office was reached for comment.
DeSantis, 44, was first considered a potential candidate for the GOP presidential nomination in 2021 when he emerged from the pandemic as a hard-line Republican.
But after the midterm elections in November, when Mr DeSantis was re-elected Governor of Florida by a nearly 20 percent margin, he began to be considered a possible front-runner.
Lately, Mr DeSantis seems to have secured his spot as a presidential candidate – partially thanks to former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump.
In the past few months, Mr Trump has launched attacks on Mr DeSantis – criticizing his legislative record in Florida, downplaying his popularity with voters and comparing their poll numbers, despite Mr DeSantis no official bid.
When Mr DeSantis was asked recently about trailing behind the former president in the polls, he replied, “I’m not a candidate so we’ll see if and when that changes.”
Florida’s governor is worried about his possible presidential bid, giving vague answers to the press and also drawing attention to his current actions in Florida.
But that hasn’t stopped the public, the media and Mr Trump from thinking Mr DeSantis is in the running.
If reports of Mr DeSantis’ launch are true, he will be the sixth person to launch a campaign for the Republican presidency.
So far, Mr Trump, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and conservative personality Larry Elder have announced their bid for the presidency.
On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden has announced he will seek re-election, and two other candidates: lawyer and anti-vaccine activist Robert F Kennedy Jr and self-help author Marianne Williamson have launched campaign.
