Florida Legislature Begins Clearing DeSantis’s Path to Candidacy

Florida Senate introduced a “resign-to-run” bill that would make Governor Ron DeSantis eligible for president without resigning from his current position in the State. DeSantis has not yet announced his candidacy for president but was seen as waiting for the legislature to act first. Under current state law, if DeSantis qualifies to run for president, he would have to resign from his post. The state law applies to all local, state, and federal candidates. It is unclear how it would work for a presidential candidate running first in multiple state presidential primaries.

The bill is currently lacking in detail and has not been titled. The “preliminary draft” will need to be amended with greater detail. It states a provision “relating to elections, providing legislative intent, providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida, Section 1. The legislature intends to revise laws relating to elections. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.” Florida’s legislative session is in progress until May 5.

DeSantis was reelected as Florida’s governor in November 2022 and inaugurated on Jan. 3, 2023. He said any announcement about his presidential candidacy would come after the decision from the legislature. His book, “The Courage To Be Free,” was published on Feb. 28, and he referred to the two-month legislative session kicking off on March 8.