In a surprising turn of events, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is reportedly gearing up to launch his 2024 presidential campaign during LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Known for his contentious stance against LGBTQ+ rights, DeSantis has neither confirmed nor denied his intentions to run for office. When questioned recently, he cryptically responded, “No news yet, so just hang out there.”
Insider sources within the Tampa Bay Republican Party, however, have shed light on DeSantis’s potential candidacy announcement. According to Queer News Tonight, DeSantis’s team is strategically planning to unveil his bid for the presidency during Pride Month. This calculated move aims to appeal specifically to conservative and evangelical voters, as the news outlet has explained.
Contradictory reports have also surfaced, suggesting an even earlier campaign announcement. NewsNation and Politico suggest that top financial backers have been invited to an event in Miami scheduled between May 24 and 26, fueling speculation of an imminent declaration. Politico further highlights that legally, DeSantis cannot receive or seek presidential campaign contributions unless he formally launches his bid.
While his team has confirmed the existence of a donors’ briefing, they have refrained from commenting on any presidential ambitions, according to NewsNation. Sources previously quoted by the outlet had hinted at a potential announcement near Memorial Day on May 29. Furthermore, The New Yorker magazine expects a late May announcement, referencing a February TV appearance by the governor, during which he alluded to “two big things” on the horizon: the Florida legislative session and a book tour for his publication, The Courage to Be Free.
DeSantis’s history as governor includes the introduction of Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law, recently expanded by lawmakers. Just days ago, he signed into law a measure granting doctors the right to refuse care based on religious, moral, or ethical grounds, raising concerns among LGBTQ+ activists that it could enable discrimination against queer individuals.
As seven other candidates have already declared their Republican presidential nominations, including frontrunner and former president Donald Trump, the stage is set for a fierce battle for the party’s support. With DeSantis potentially leveraging Pride Month for his campaign launch, the intersection of politics and the LGBTQ+ community takes center stage, setting the tone for a highly contentious race ahead.