When will Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) officially announce his candidacy for the Republican 2024 presidential race? While the question has been batted around for months now, former President Trump continues to widen his lead in the primary polls. When asked about the latest polling numbers during his current trip to Japan, the governor responded that he is not a candidate and added, “We’ll see if and when that changes.”

Straight Arrow News contributor David Pakman breaks down several reasons why DeSantis has lost his once-impressive edge, including an unpopular position involving Disney.


Can Donald Trump and his MAGA allies end Ron DeSantis’ presidential run before it even starts? This is increasingly the question that Trump and people around him are working on. And it is a real question mark as to whether Ron DeSantis is actually going to be able to get away from announcing that he is indeed running.

So let me set the stage for you. Months ago, it seemed as though Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis was destined not only to run for the Republican nomination but to have a real shot at actually winning and taking it from Donald Trump. He was surging in the 2024 Republican primary polls despite not having announced. He won his gubernatorial reelection in Florida, over-performing the polls by close to 20 points, even though the polls had him ahead by only 11. This guy’s star was absolutely rising and megadonors were lining up behind him and saying we’re done with Trump, DeSantis is our guy.

What has changed? A couple different things have changed. Number one: DeSantis has become obsessed with a few issues that are losing issues nationally in a general election and questionable issues for a Republican primary. These are: obsessively battling Disney — many Americans love Disney. I hate theme parks, many Americans love it. The focus and obsession on Disney isn’t going super well. Number two: signing a six-week abortion ban into law in Florida. Most Americans and most Floridians disagree with that. Number three: expanding “Don’t Say Gay.”

In theory, these are all things Republicans should like, but on the issues the country has continued to move to the left.