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Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida Breaks from Republican Orthodoxy in Acknowledging Trump’s Loss

In a recent interview with NBC News, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida stated that Donald J. Trump lost the 2020 election, marking a notable departure from the prevailing sentiment among most Republican voters. While many of Trump’s GOP rivals are experimenting with new lines of attack against him, DeSantis openly acknowledged Joe Biden as the rightful president.

DeSantis, who is currently trailing behind Trump in polls for the Republican presidential nomination, previously deemed the former president’s baseless claims of election fraud as “unsubstantiated.” However, his recent comments signify a shift in strategy. While not completely distancing himself from the election-denying faction of the Republican Party, DeSantis did highlight certain flaws in the 2020 election, describing it as imperfect.

This change in stance strengthens DeSantis’s argument against Trump, emphasizing that under the former president’s leadership, Republicans have performed poorly in consecutive elections. Additionally, DeSantis’s remarks suggest that Trump’s legal troubles have presented an opportunity for his GOP competitors to gain an advantage.

Although none of Trump’s top rivals have openly attacked him in response to his recent criminal charges, they are attempting to exploit his weaknesses. By acknowledging the reality of the 2020 election results and challenging the denial that Trump and many Republicans live in, these contenders hope to gain support and stand out among Republican voters.

However, DeSantis’s accurate remarks may put him at odds with a significant portion of the Republican base. According to a CNN poll conducted last month, roughly 70% of Republican voters believe that President Biden’s victory was illegitimate. Trump himself continues to insist that he was the rightful winner.

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump, criticized DeSantis for his supportive stance towards Biden, stating that he should stop being Biden’s “biggest cheerleader.” This reaction from Trump’s camp suggests that DeSantis may face repercussions from hard-line Trump supporters due to his acknowledgment of Trump’s loss.

Among the prominent Republican candidates, former Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey and former Vice President Mike Pence have been the most vocal in opposing Trump. Christie is running on an explicitly anti-Trump platform, while Pence has voiced his willingness to testify in Trump’s trial over the events of January 6, 2021. However, their arguments have failed to resonate with Republican voters. Christie is polling at around 2% in national surveys, and Pence has yet to qualify for the first Republican debate.

DeSantis’s latest comments on the 2020 election mirror his previous statements, highlighting flaws in its execution. He pointed out the widespread use of mail-in ballots, private donations to election administrators from Mark Zuckerberg, and efforts by social media companies to restrict the spread of a report on Hunter Biden’s laptop. DeSantis believes that Republicans did not fight back effectively during the election.

During the lead-up to the 2022 midterms, DeSantis campaigned for election deniers, showing his support for candidates like Doug Mastriano and Kari Lake, who ran for governor in Pennsylvania and Arizona, respectively. However, all of these candidates, including DeSantis’s favored picks, lost in the general elections. This outcome demonstrates that while espousing election denialism may be effective in Republican primaries, it does not fare well in key battleground states. The CNN poll found that 60% of independent voters nationwide believe that Biden won the 2020 election, signaling a potential challenge for Republicans who embrace election denialism leading into 2024.

Before securing the Republican nomination, DeSantis must navigate the primary race. His comments on the 2020 election have been viewed as disqualifying by ardent Trump supporters. Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow and a prominent promoter of election conspiracy theories, stated that any politician who claims Trump lost and Biden won is essentially ending their campaign.

Nevertheless, DeSantis’s change in approach may help alleviate concerns among some major donors. Robert Bigelow, who contributed over $20 million to a super PAC supporting DeSantis, expressed the need for a more moderate approach, suggesting that he would withhold further donations unless the governor adjusted his strategy. DeSantis’s campaign has experienced a fundraising shortfall, leading to staff layoffs.

In recent weeks, DeSantis has taken advantage of increased opportunities to address sensitive topics like the 2020 election. As part of a campaign “reboot,” he has expanded his interviews to include mainstream news outlets, moving away from exclusively appearing on Fox News and conservative platforms. He has engaged with CNN, CBS, ABC, The Wall Street Journal, and NBC, taking more questions from reporters during campaign events. These platforms have allowed DeSantis to criticize Trump’s age, his failure to tackle corruption during his presidency, and what he perceives as a “culture of losing” that has permeated the Republican Party under Trump.

While DeSantis has defended Trump against his criminal charges, referring to them as the “weaponization” of the federal government against a political rival, his comments indicate a gradual shift towards more direct confrontation. Notably, DeSantis avoids mentioning Trump by name in his speeches to voters, choosing to discuss the topic only when prompted by attendees at campaign events or reporters.

Some Republican candidates vying for the party’s nomination have already affirmed the overall legitimacy of the 2020 election. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who is currently polling in third place behind Trump and DeSantis, stated last month that he did not believe the election was “stolen.” He does, however, support efforts in Republican-led states to tighten voting measures, such as restrictions on drop-boxes and signature verification. These initiatives have been criticized by civil rights and voting rights activists, who argue that they may disproportionately affect low-income and minority voters.

There is still uncertainty regarding other candidates’ views on Trump’s loss in the 2020 election. Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech millionaire, has defended Trump but did not respond to questions about whether he believes Trump lost the election. While Ramaswamy initially criticized Trump’s actions surrounding the Capitol breach on January 6, he later stated that he would pardon Trump for any conviction related to that event.

Governor DeSantis’s recent comments relating to the 2020 election demonstrate a cautious shift away from Trump, though not a complete break. His acknowledgment of Trump’s loss may alienate some Republican voters who continue to support the former president’s claims. However, his shift in strategy could help assuage concerns among big-money donors and attract more moderate support. As the Republican primary approaches, it remains to be seen whether DeSantis’s approach will resonate with voters or face backlash from the fervent Trump base.

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