19 Michigan state GOP lawmakers throw support behind DeSantis

Nineteen GOP Michigan state legislators have endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for president in 2024, even though he hasn’t officially announced he’s running. 

The pro-DeSantis political action committee Never Back Down announced that state Rep. Bryan Posthumus and 18 other Michigan conservatives are backing DeSantis after he visited the state earlier this month.

Posthumus, who led a letter effort earlier this year urging DeSantis to get in the race, said he’s “excited about the future of this county with Gov. DeSantis as our next president.”

DeSantis earlier this week dodged a question about presidential polling showing him trailing far behind former President Trump, saying, “I’m not a candidate, so we’ll see if and when that changes.”

But he has been stoking speculation about a possible White House bid as he visits battleground states and embarks on an international trade mission. He regularly polls just behind Trump in GOP primary hypotheticals.

DeSantis indicated earlier this year he would decide on a possible presidential run after Florida’s legislative session ends in May. He’s also received some preemptive endorsements from Republican members of the House, though at least half of Florida’s Republican House delegation has declared to support Trump.

Never Back Down was founded by former senior Trump administration official Ken Cuccinelli.