Republican lawmakers in Florida may clear a path for Gov. Ron DeSantis to run for president, should he opt to do so.
Newsmax reported on Tuesday that both state Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples Republican, and House Speaker Paul Renner, a Palm Coast Republican, think it is a “good idea” to repeal the state’s “resign to run” law for governors.
The current law requires incumbents in one political office to resign from that seat in order to run for a different elected office.
Newsmax noted that the state changed its law in 2008 when then-Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican at the time, was rumored to be a vice presidential candidate.
Ironically, Crist is now a Democrat and was crushed by DeSantis on Election Day, losing by 20 points.
The initial change allowed a governor who was nearing the end of his or her term to remain in office until a new governor was inaugurated. That, however, would not apply to DeSantis in 2024, Newsmax noted.
Lawmakers reinstated the original law for governors in 2018.
Renner noted that the 2008 change set a precedent that could be applied again, if DeSantis chooses to run for president.
Passidomo noted, “If an individual who is Florida governor is running for president, I think he should be allowed to do it. I really do. That’s a big honor and a privilege, so it is a good idea.”
DeSantis, however, has insisted repeatedly that he is not interested in running for president in 2024.
He recently told people speculating about that, and about a showdown with former President Donald Trump, who announced his bid last week, to “chill out.”
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