The old Republican Party is dead. And no state is more responsible for ushering it to its grave than Florida.
From Florida man Donald Trump’s presidential nomination comeback to Sen. Rick Scott’s just-announced dark horse bid for Senate GOP leader, Florida politicians are leading the charge to completely rid the GOP of its pre-Trump vestiges of “establishment” Republicans. And the state under Gov. Ron DeSantis has served as a blueprint for the new form of pugilistic Republican governance, from attacking “woke” corporations to outlandish stunts on immigration.
California was the launch pad for the Republican Party in the Nixon and Reagan eras, followed by Texas in the age of the Bushes and Tom DeLay. But now, Florida is shaping up to be the dominant force not only in the Republican Party, but in the nation’s politics more broadly for the foreseeable future.
“Florida is having its day, and it’s about time,” said former Sen. George LeMieux (R-Fla.). “Florida is coming into its own.”
Trump is considering Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Byron Donalds, both of Florida, as possible running mates. Even after losing the GOP nomination, DeSantis remains one of the most influential conservative governors in the U.S. who’s made it clear his quest for the presidency isn’t over. And it was one of the most prolific rabble-rousers in the House, Rep. Matt Gaetz, who led the ouster of then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year.
Florida — once viewed as the biggest battleground state in the nation — started its transformation to conservative epicenter during Trump’s presidency and especially the coronavirus pandemic. Trump made the Sunshine State his residency midway through his presidency and stayed there after leaving the White House. DeSantis hailed the state as a conservative bastion free from lockdowns, mandates and the “liberal ideology” that he said permeated businesses and schools.
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It drew a surge in new residents who registered Republican, as well as conservative commentators, TV hosts, authors and radio hosts — DeSantis guest hosted new Florida resident Sean Hannity’s radio show on Wednesday. That’s not even counting the pilgrimages Republicans make to appease Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club.
“For all my life we were always also-rans,” said Brian Ballard, a prominent national Republican fundraiser and lobbyist from Florida who is close to the former president.
Ballard argues a handful of Floridians on both sides of the aisle already hold prominent positions in Washington. But he concedes this year’s election could expand that influence. “This election could make Florida even more relevant and important on a national scene,” he said.
LeMieux, the former senator, said the state’s economic boom and surge in residents helped its image evolve.
“It used to be all about ‘Florida man’ and jokes about Florida,” LeMieux said. “You don’t hear that as much anymore. You hear about Ken Griffin moving Citadel to Miami and Jeff Bezos moving back home to Florida. … You hear a lot now about the Florida success story.”
Amid all the changes happening in the state, Republicans down-ballot have been able to gain a foothold in Florida’s elevated profile, one that is more conservative and more outspoken, said former Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.).
“They are just riding the wave,” he said. “They are benefiting from all the attention, the political support that comes with it, the notoriety in conservative media.”
A lineup of Floridians in the upper echelons of politics would help shed the “Florida curse” that has dogged the state’s reputation.
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