MIAMI.- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will join thousands of Republicans next week in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, but he will not be seen on the main stage when Donald Trump is nominated as the Republican presidential candidate, Politico reports.
DeSantis, once seen as a rising star of conservatism, ended his presidential bid after finishing a distant second in Iowa. While he will not speak on the main stage during the convention, he will participate in other Republican side events.
DeSantis’ reasons
Many see DeSantis as a likely presidential candidate in 2028. However, that position could be jeopardized if Trump chooses another Florida Republican, such as Sen. Marco Rubio, as his vice president, according to some political analysts.
Trump’s endorsement of Rubio as his vice presidential nominee could overshadow DeSantis’ future aspirations and cement Rubio as a strong contender within the party.
Governor’s Agenda
The Florida governor will be present at an event organized by Moms for Liberty and at the “Southern States Fest”, which will be held at the Milwaukee Brewers stadium and will feature the participation of other Republican governors from the region.
DeSantis will also be a keynote speaker at a breakfast hosted by the Florida Republican Party and will have access to the convention grounds through passes provided to sitting governors and members of Congress, according to Evan Power, chairman of the Florida Republicans.
Background
DeSantis won the Florida governorship in 2018 with crucial backing from Trump. However, his decision to defy his longtime ally was seen as an act of betrayal by the former president, who responded furiously. The relationship was further strained when DeSantis escalated his criticism of Trump, prompting several senior Trump advisers who previously worked with DeSantis to distance themselves from him.
The governor has repeatedly said he did not expect to campaign much for Trump in this election year, as he believes Florida is not a key state for Democrats.
In fact, DeSantis did not attend Trump’s Doral rally, despite the presence of many other Florida Republicans, including the state’s two senators.
Other notable names who will also not be speaking at the convention include Nikki Haley, a former ambassador to the United Nations, who was not even invited to the event.
In contrast, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice will have a spot to talk about his career, his vision for his state and Trump’s impact, accompanied by his popular English bulldog, Babydog.
DeSantis’ absence from the main stage of the convention highlights Trump’s continued influence over his former allies and rivals. Despite not having a leading role at this event, DeSantis remains an important figure within the party and his political future still promises to be relevant in the years to come.
