Trump, DeSantis early favorites to win 2024 GOP nomination

by | Feb 19, 2021



Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are early favorites to win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

PredictIt, an online political betting market, pegged the pair of Florida Republicans as likely presidential nominees for the 2024 presidential election. Trump, who resides at his permanent home in Palm Beach, naturally topped the list — trading at 20 cents a share. He is followed closely by DeSantis, who at the time of writing, is trading at 15 cents a share — up nearly 10 cents since last month.

The Florida duo are not the only Sunshine State residents on the list. Joining Trump and DeSantis are Senators Marco Rubio (5¢) and Rick Scott (3¢). Both Florida lawmakers are down one cent since the market opened shortly after President Joe Biden was officially sworn in.

Other notable names on the list include former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (14¢), former Vice President Mike Pence (8¢), Texas Senator Ted Cruz (7¢), South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (6¢), Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton (5¢), Utah Senator Mitt Romney (4¢), Fox News Host Tucker Carlson (4¢), and Donald Trump Jr. (4¢).

Conventional wisdom says the money is still on Trump in 2024. The now-former president remains a focal point and still benefits from a swath of Republican supporters that feel disenfranchised following last November’s election results. Despite Trump’s White House exit that included a permanent ban on Twitter and Facebook, the business tycoon continues to develop a strong foothold in the news, and has even created his own “Office of the Former President” as a counter to his social media exodus. With Trump establishing a base of operations at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, the former president has crafted a pulpit that can be used to reach his most ardent followers and influence elections moving forward.

Perhaps more surprising, however, is the rise in DeSantis’s political stock. While Trump has cemented his spot on the national stage, DeSantis continues to see his name linked to the Oval Office as whispers behind the scenes in Florida speculate that he may be the one to carry the torch for the fractured Republican Party. Despite what is certain to be a contentious 2022 gubernatorial election, insiders believe DeSantis would be the perfect fit to fill the void left by Trump. The idea is not far fetched either. DeSantis continues to endear himself to his conservative base — thanks in large part to his robust agenda for the 2021 Legislative Session that includes cracking down on violent mobs, placing the crosshairs on Silicon Valley, and safeguarding businesses and frontline health care workers from COVID-19 lawsuits — and also has the popularity to boot.

While DeSantis has remained silent on a potential bid, choosing to turn his attention to leading Florida through the pandemic, that has not stopped prominent GOP officials from gazing into their crystal ball.

U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz, who has also been floated to run for a new office in 2022, believes that DeSantis could take up the Republican mantle if Trump decides not to run in 2024.

“He is a strong potential presidential candidate in 2024, the Biden team knows that, and so they’re trying to somehow cast aspersions on the Florida experience because you know what, throughout America, there’s a lot of Florida envy right now,” Gaetz said in an interview with Fox News over the weekend.

To view PredictIt’s list of potential GOP hopefuls, click here.

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