Two Sources familiar with the decision confirmed that Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis will officially announce his entry into the 2024 U.S. presidential race next week, positioning himself as the primary contender against former President Donald Trump.
DeSantis is expected to file his candidacy paperwork on May 25 during a donor meeting in Miami, followed by a more formal campaign launch during the week of May 29.
The invitation for the May 25 event suggests that donors will be engaged in fundraising efforts for DeSantis, as mentioned by an attendee familiar with the event.
Representatives for DeSantis have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the announcement.
In recent weeks, Donald Trump has intensified his political attacks on the Florida governor, but he still maintains a strong lead in the 2024 Republican primary, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll.
DeSantis chose to wait until the conclusion of the Florida legislature's spring session, which ended earlier this month, before entering the race, causing concerns among some influential Republican donors who were eager for him to challenge Trump earlier.
Despite facing a decline in national polls due to Trump's attacks, DeSantis and his team remain confident in their planned timetable for the campaign announcement.
DeSantis achieved numerous conservative victories in recent months, thanks to support from Republican lawmakers. These victories include expanding the state's school voucher program, prohibiting the use of public funds in sustainable investing, eliminating diversity programs at public universities, allowing permitless carry of concealed weapons, and implementing one of the strictest abortion bans in the state.
In preparation for his candidacy, DeSantis has received assistance from the newly formed political action committee Never Back Down, which has been recruiting staff in early-voting states and airing television advertisements supporting DeSantis while criticizing Trump.
At the age of 44, DeSantis secured re-election as Florida governor in the previous year, defeating his Democratic opponent by a significant margin of nearly 20 percentage points.
