Ron DeSantis Drops Out of 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses Trump

In a stunning turn of events, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has dropped out of the 2024 Republican presidential primary race, just days before the New Hampshire primary elections.

DeSantis' troubled campaign, which drew criticism and jokes from political rivals like California Governor Gavin Newsom, sputtered to a stop amid plummeting poll numbers.

DeSantis has now endorsed his former opponent, former President Donald Trump, in a move that has been described as "kissing the ring." With DeSantis out of the race, the New Hampshire Republican primary appears to be a contest between Trump and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, according to recent polling data.

Trump himself claimed there are strong rumors that DeSantis is planning to run against Senator Rick Scott of Florida for the Senate instead. The former president described DeSantis' presidential campaign as a "shambles," with poll numbers that have "absolutely crashed," putting him in third or fourth place in some states.

The Florida governor's exit from the race coincides with his acknowledgment that his state may have gone too far in banning books, after signing a law in 2022 that led to school districts removing hundreds of titles. DeSantis has now signed a new bill to limit the number of challenges that Florida residents without children can make to one per month, admitting that some people are "weaponizing" the curriculum transparency law for political purposes.

In related news, former New Jersey governor and two-time failed presidential candidate Chris Christie also announced he is dropping out of the 2024 race during a town hall in New Hampshire. Christie's campaign failed to gain traction, trailing behind fellow candidates like Haley, DeSantis, and Vivek Ramaswamy in national polls despite his pugnacious campaign against Trump.

Meanwhile, Trump has reportedly targeted Republican strategist Jeff Roe and his consulting firm Axiom as "enemy No. 1" after Roe's departure from DeSantis' Never Back Down super PAC in December. The former president and his inner circle have warned other Republicans against hiring Roe, accusing him of trying to prolong DeSantis' campaign to make money.

Why this matters: The shakeup in the Republican presidential primary field, with DeSantis and Christie dropping out, leaves Trump as the clear frontrunner. DeSantis' endorsement of Trump, after months of bitter rivalry, highlights the former president's enduring grip on the party. The developments also highlight the challenges faced by Trump's rivals in mounting a credible challenge to his bid for a second term in the White House.

According to an anonymous GOP strategist, it is an "open secret" that candidates who want to stay on Trump's good side should not hire Axiom. The strategist told POLITICO, "The word is out that if you want to be in Donald Trump's good graces, steer clear of Axiom. Trump views them as the enemy right now for trying to prop up DeSantis' failing campaign."

Key Takeaways

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis drops out of 2024 GOP primary, endorses Trump.
• DeSantis may run for Senate against Rick Scott, Trump calls his campaign a "shambles".
• DeSantis acknowledges going too far in banning books, signs new bill to limit challenges.
• Former NJ Gov. Chris Christie also drops out of 2024 race, failing to gain traction.
• Trump targets GOP strategist Jeff Roe, warns others against hiring him for propping up DeSantis.