Florida Governor Ron DeSantis concluded his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination on Sunday, announcing his withdrawal and suspension in a video posted on X. DeSantis stated that he could no longer ask his campaign staff to dedicate their time and efforts without a feasible path to victory.
In his announcement, DeSantis conceded that a significant majority of Republican primary voters are inclined to give Donald Trump another term. Honoring a pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee, DeSantis endorsed Donald Trump. As he exited the race, DeSantis critiqued his remaining opponent, Nikki Haley, portraying her as representative of the “old Republican guard of yesteryear — a repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism.”
Nikki Haley acknowledged DeSantis’ departure, recognizing his tenure as governor and wishing him well. She noted the race had narrowed to “one fella and one lady,” adding, “May the best woman win.”
Ron DeSantis greets supporters at his caucus night event in West Des Moines, Iowa, after the 2024 Iowa caucuses signaled a distant second place finish.
The Iowa Defeat and the Path to Nomination
DeSantis’ decision to withdraw came on the heels of a significant defeat in the Iowa caucuses, where he finished a distant second to Donald Trump, trailing by a margin of 30 points. This substantial loss raised critical questions about DeSantis’ strategy and his ability to secure the nomination. Despite investing considerable resources and time in Iowa, banking on a robust retail politics approach and grassroots campaign, DeSantis failed to demonstrate a viable path to victory in subsequent states, ultimately leading to his exit just days before the New Hampshire primary.
Throughout his campaign, DeSantis, aged 45, positioned himself as a more effective leader to implement policies similar to Trump’s, particularly on issues such as immigration and government spending. He also argued that Trump’s ongoing legal challenges could jeopardize Republican prospects in the general election.
DeSantis heavily emphasized his record as Governor of Florida, highlighting his administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, his legislative achievements on taxation, fiscal management, and the state’s six-week abortion ban. He frequently cited his impressive 20-point reelection victory in Florida as evidence of his broad electoral appeal and potential as the Republican nominee.
However, since his campaign’s troubled launch on Twitter in May 2023, DeSantis struggled to articulate a compelling rationale for Republican voters to choose him over the established frontrunner, Donald Trump.
Trump’s Attacks and Campaign Struggles
As the campaign progressed, the polling gap between DeSantis and Trump widened. Former President Trump launched consistent attacks, branding DeSantis as disloyal and using the derisive nickname “DeSanctimonious.” The Trump campaign and allied groups invested heavily in anti-DeSantis advertising, focusing on his personality, attire, and perceived campaign disorganization.
Financial difficulties also plagued the DeSantis campaign. Early overspending strained resources, leading to staff reductions in the fall. Fundraising efforts remained consistently below expectations, especially as Nikki Haley garnered support from Republican donors seeking an alternative to Trump.
A pro-DeSantis super PAC, Never Back Down, assumed an unusually prominent role in the campaign, managing grassroots operations and voter outreach in key early states. This super PAC often hosted DeSantis at campaign events due to the campaign’s own financial constraints. The extensive involvement of Never Back Down, which operated independently due to campaign finance regulations, eventually led to a formal complaint filed by the Campaign Legal Center, alleging illegal coordination between the campaign and the PAC. Furthermore, Never Back Down experienced significant leadership changes amidst strategic disagreements, increased influence from DeSantis loyalists, and growing concerns about DeSantis’ declining poll numbers.
Analysis of Ron DeSantis withdrawing from the presidential race and the potential impacts on the New Hampshire primary.
The Decision to Withdraw: New Hampshire and 2028 Considerations
Despite DeSantis’ initial aim to create a two-candidate race against Trump, he could not establish himself as the clear alternative, particularly as Nikki Haley gained momentum in Iowa and New Hampshire following strong debate performances.
Sources close to DeSantis revealed intense internal debates within his campaign team regarding the path forward. Some advisors advocated for continuing the campaign through Super Tuesday to accumulate delegates, anticipating a potential Haley withdrawal or unforeseen challenges for Trump. However, others emphasized the rapidly diminishing financial resources and the detrimental impact of a weak showing in New Hampshire. A single-digit performance in New Hampshire would undermine any future claim DeSantis might make about a respectable 2024 run, even with a second-place finish in Iowa. Ultimately, the consensus shifted towards withdrawing from the race.
While DeSantis had initially leaned towards persevering, he ultimately concluded that exiting the race now was the most strategic move to preserve his political capital for a potential 2028 presidential bid. Crucially, DeSantis and his advisors aimed to ensure his withdrawal would not be interpreted as benefiting Haley in New Hampshire. DeSantis reportedly views Haley as a likely future opponent in 2028 and seeks to avoid any political alignment with her or perception of being anti-Trump.
Sources indicate DeSantis is privately focused on mending relationships with members of the Trump movement. Republican sources in New Hampshire and Trump allies suggest DeSantis calculated that his withdrawal could direct his supporters – estimated at 3% to 5% of New Hampshire primary voters – towards Trump, potentially helping Trump exceed 50% of the vote in the upcoming primary. Trump aims for a decisive victory in New Hampshire, exceeding 50% and surpassing Haley by a significant margin.
In a January interview, when asked if he should have waited until 2028 to launch a presidential campaign, DeSantis acknowledged the difficulty of running against Trump. He stated, “Obviously with Trump in, it’s more difficult,” while affirming his sense of calling to run in 2024.
Endorsing Trump Over Haley: A Strategic Calculation
DeSantis, in his withdrawal announcement, affirmed his pledge to support the Republican nominee. He stated, “While I’ve had disagreements with Donald Trump, such as on the coronavirus pandemic and his elevation of Anthony Fauci, Trump is superior to the current incumbent Joe Biden.” He further explained his endorsement of Trump by asserting, “Trump has my endorsement because we can’t go back to the Republican Guard of yesteryear, a repackaged form of warmed over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents.”
Following the Iowa caucuses, DeSantis acknowledged Trump’s victory and expressed skepticism about Haley’s prospects in New Hampshire. He criticized Haley’s campaign strategy and debate performances, suggesting she was prone to gaffes and lacked substantive voter engagement.
Donald Trump publicly acknowledged DeSantis’ endorsement at a rally in New Hampshire, expressing appreciation for DeSantis and his wife Casey, and announcing the retirement of the “DeSanctimonious” nickname.
Nidia Cavazos contributed to this report.
By Aaron Navarro
