DeSantis to head to D.C. as he nears presidential bid
The Florida governor will have a ‘meet and greet’ with fellow Republicans.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is heading to D.C. next week, marking a rare return to the nation’s capital as he ramps up for an expected run for president.
The governor is set to meet with Republican members of Congress and conservative leaders for an event dubbed as a “meet and greet policy discussion.” It will be held on April 18.
DeSantis is expected to be joined by a group that includes Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher, Illinois Rep. Darin LaHood, and Rep. Randy Feenstra, who hails from the first-in-the-nation caucus state of Iowa. According to a copy of the invitation, other expected guests include Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie and Texas Rep. Chip Roy, both of whom have endorsed DeSantis’ prospective presidential bid.
DeSantis has rarely spent time in Washington since leaving Congress in 2018. And his return there is likely to be closely watched for the reception he receives among elected Republicans, the vast majority of whom have not stated their preference in the primary.
Senior members of DeSantis’ political team over this week called members of the Florida congressional delegation to give them political briefings and to share updates on the governor’s activities, according to a person familiar with the conversations. The officials have been looking to establish ties with the state delegation, which could prove important should DeSantis decide to run for president.
Those calls and the trip to D.C. come as former President Donald Trump has drawn support from the Florida congressional delegation. Trump, a Florida resident who spends much of his time at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, has in recent days won the backing of Florida Reps. Byron Donalds and Cory Mills.
DeSantis has continued his travel ahead of a potential bid, including upcoming stops in New Hampshire and South Carolina, both of which historically hold early nominating contests. He is expected to spend the end of the month traveling abroad, including to Israel.