
Florida Republicans faced a critical decision regarding a loyalty pledge on Friday evening, a choice that would impact the dynamics of the state’s political landscape. Ultimately, they voted to remove a provision in the Republican Party of Florida’s state bylaws. This provision mandated that any candidate wishing to appear on the March 19 presidential primary ballot must pledge loyalty to the eventual GOP nominee.
The party’s decision to backtrack on this requirement, which had been adopted in May, was not only a victory for former President Donald Trump’s campaign, but it also signaled that Gov. Ron DeSantis no longer held an unassailable grip on the state party. Notably, DeSantis supporters, including House Speaker Paul Renner, had urged the state GOP to retain the pledge.
The vote took place during a somewhat contentious closed-door session held by the party’s executive board at a hotel in Orlando. Loyal Trump supporters, who were not board members, initially attempted to attend the meeting but were subsequently asked to leave. They anxiously awaited the final decision outside the room where the voting was taking place.
State Sen. Joe Gruters, former chair of the Florida GOP and a Trump supporter, played a pivotal role in advocating for the removal of the requirement during the meeting. Gruters argued that the rule change, introduced so close to the primary, was unwarranted and could be perceived as anti-Trump. He emphasized that the alteration could have been detrimental to the Florida Republican Party as it would have upset Trump supporters, potentially leading to the dissolution of the party itself.
Ed Shoemaker of the Polk County GOP voiced his support for removing the requirement during the meeting, asserting that failing to include Trump on the ballot would leave people “pissed.”
It’s important to note that both Trump and DeSantis did not attend the Orlando conference; they were in Washington, D.C., at the Family Research Council’s annual Pray, Vote, Stand conference when the vote occurred.
DeSantis and Trump hold significant influence among Florida voters and donors, increasing the stakes for party members who may consider voting for or against the loyalty pledge. Those who oppose it risk seeing their political ambitions crumble, while others who support it could potentially witness their cherished policy goals vanish.
Both DeSantis and Trump have demonstrated a willingness to take punitive actions. Trump has a history of aggressively challenging his critics and primarying them, often resorting to personal and sardonic attacks on social media. DeSantis, on the other hand, has shown no reluctance to veto legislative spending priorities proposed by fellow Republicans or to take actions such as suspending liberal prosecutors.
Approximately 70 individuals gathered outside the meeting, many of them donning Trump hats and chanting, “We want Trump!”
Following the vote, Vic Baker, a Volusia County Republican on the party’s executive committee, explained that the loyalty oath, which also required candidates not to run as independents, would have constituted an “imposition on Donald Trump.” He stressed that it could have incited the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement into fury. Baker emphasized that Trump represents not just a candidate but a movement.
Bryan Griffin, press secretary for DeSantis’ campaign, expressed the viewpoint that “anyone who wants to run for president as a Republican should be willing to pledge their support for our eventual nominee.”
As of the time of this reporting, Trump’s campaign had not issued a response to the vote.
Trump, who won Florida twice, including making substantial gains in 2020 compared to 2016, enjoys support from the state’s congressional delegation. His Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach is his permanent post-presidential residence, serving as a symbol for the GOP base. Trump utilizes the property to court Republicans and has even extended invitations to the Florida GOP’s executive committee for a dinner in November.
The proceedings on Friday were closed to the public and the press but were open to party members. At the outset of the meeting, there was a motion to ban recordings, which passed. Another motion to conduct the vote by secret ballot failed by a narrow margin, 19-16.
The loyalty pledge had been in effect since May, and the Republican Party of Florida had made the decision with minimal fanfare. It resembled the Republican National Committee’s requirement for participants in the first and second national debates to support the eventual Republican nominee. Notably, Trump did not partake in the first debate and is not expected to participate in the upcoming one in Simi Valley, California, on September 27.
Both Trump and DeSantis hold considerable support in Florida, and the loyalty pledge had been discussed with both campaigns during the summer. Nevertheless, some Republicans who voted earlier this year did not fully comprehend the change, leading to a degree of surprise when the alteration garnered public attention.
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