Amid GOP feud, DeSantis plans to spend money to elect 'strong conservative' successor

[Zorro]

The move appeared at least in part to target the future ambitions of Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.

Upping the ante in an increasingly acrimonious feud with House and Senate Republican leaders over immigration issues, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday vowed to channel “huge sums” of money to candidates he backs in next year’s GOP gubernatorial and legislative primary elections.

The governor’s message drew condemnation from House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, as bitterness continued to fester about a bill passed by the Legislature this week amid a dispute over plans aimed at carrying out President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

DeSantis in a post on X said he intends to unleash the financial power of the Florida Freedom Fund, a political committee he used last year to help defeat proposed constitutional amendments on recreational marijuana and abortion rights.

“The FL Freedom Fund was instrumental in raising huge sums of $ to defeat Amendments 3 and 4 in 2024. For the 2026 cycle, the FFF will raise even more resources (1) to ensure support for a strong conservative gubernatorial candidate and (2) to support strong conservative candidates in legislative primaries. We need to elect strong leaders who will build off FL’s success and who will deliver on the promises made to voters,” DeSantis posted Thursday morning.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2025/01/31/amid-gop-feud-desantis-plans-spend-money-elect-strong-conservative-successor/