The Presidential election is coming up in eleven months. With that, the time for candidates to prove themselves worthy of becoming the next President of the United States is running out.
The Republican party has had four debates. During this time, the number of Republican candidates has fallen slowly from eleven to five. That’s more than half the competition.
One of the Republican candidates is Ron DeSantis. He is the Governor of Florida. Before becoming Governor, DeSantis was the Representative for the 6th District of Florida, in Congress.
Two years after DeSantis’ discharge from the Navy, he ran for House Representative. He won his first election. DeSantis would be reelected twice after that.
During his time in Congress, DeSantis would vote to repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act, co-sponsor laws against unlawful aliens (people residing in the United States without documented citizenship), and oppose any, and all, gun control bills. He’d become a founding member of the Freedom Caucus: a Congressional caucus with the most right-wing assembly within the house Republican conference.
DeSantis is notorious for his legal battles between the Walt Disney Company. He condemned the company for using its right to free speech when his proposed law, banning gender/sexuality curriculum in elementary schools, was passed by the Florida legislature. This, in turn, led to a months-long battle which he eventually lost.
It was his loss against this company that led to his loss of popularity among his Republican voters and collogues. His biggest campaign donor, Kenneth Griffin, who had donated at least five million dollars to DeSantis’ campaign, called his battles with the Disney Company “pointless.”
Though DeSantis was elected to a second term for Governor of Florida, right now, it is evident that not many in his home state are thrilled at the prospect of his presidency. Even the most far-right Republicans, the MAGA (Make America Great Again) Republicans, aren’t approving of him.
Recent polls show the fall in DeSantis’ popularity over time. On June 1st of this year, polls from FiveThirtyEight show DeSantis with a 23.1% approval rating for leader. However, as of December 6th, DeSantis’ approval rating dropped to 12.7%. That is a 10.4% drop in approval.
After the Republican debate on December 7th, CNN gathered eight Republican voters from Iowa to express who they thought had won the debate. Only one rose their hand in favor of DeSantis.
DeSantis’ beliefs have always been simple: no gun control; secure border; “unwoke” curriculum; minimize social security; increase trade; stand up to communism.
However, currently, voters are not liking the foundations of DeSantis’ presidential campaign. There are voters who have admitted that his campaign is too centered around being different than Donald Trump; being better than Trump.
Yet, there are those who see DeSantis as a good leader. Those people believe DeSantis is straightforward and headstrong; someone the country needs when negotiating with the “communist regimes.”
The reality of next year’s election is that the best will win. However, there is a big enough chance that DeSantis won’t have the support he will need to do so.
