Florida Governor Ron DeSantis addressed a crowd of approximately 2,000 conservatives at Northern Nevada’s annual Basque Fry on Saturday, making his case for the 2024 Republican presidential-preference primary.
DeSantis, who never mentioned frontrunner Donald Trump by name, emphasized that leadership is about producing results for the people, not about entertainment or brand building, Reno Gazette Journal reports.
What Happened: DeSantis, addressing the crowd under a blue sky with snow-topped mountains behind him, stated his intention to reverse societal declines brought on by what he termed “the dumpster fire of woke ideology.”
He argued that his record in Florida demonstrates repeated success in combating these issues. “We need to restore sanity in this country,” DeSantis said. “We need to restore a sense of normalcy to our communities. We need to make sure our institutions have integrity.”
DeSantis discussed numerous problems he sees in the country and how his administration handled them in Florida. These included bureaucracies being too sluggish in responding to disasters, prosecutors who don’t prosecute certain crimes, and school curricula informed by race and gender ideologies. He also mentioned his recent visit to the Reno Rodeo and his children’s enjoyment of the bull riding event, the Journal noted.
Why It Matters: DeSantis’ speech comes amidst a series of controversies and political battles.
As reported by Benzinga, former President Donald Trump recently branded DeSantis as disloyal. DeSantis has also been in a feud with the Walt Disney Company DIS, which some believe may have hurt voter sentiment toward the governor.
Despite these challenges, DeSantis continues to be a prominent figure in the GOP, with some polls placing him ahead of other potential 2024 candidates.
Hi, I am the Benzinga Newsbot! I wrote the above article, utilizing the sources I hyperlinked above. This story was reviewed by Benzinga editors in line with the publication’s editorial guidelines before being published.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
