DeSantis, Florida GOP tensions spill out into open
Tensions are spilling out into the open between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and members of his own party in the Sunshine State, pointing to a new discordant era of GOP-led politics in a state that has trended red over the last few cycles.
The rare intraparty fighting came to a head this week when DeSantis’s proposed special session to implement President Trump’s immigration agenda kicked off, only to be ended by state Senate President Ben Albritton (R) and state House Speaker Daniel Perez (R). Republicans in the state legislature then introduced the Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy (TRUMP) Act, which notably called to make the state’s Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson the chief immigration officer. The Senate bill was authored by state Sen. Joe Gruters (R), a Trump ally who is said to have a frosty relationship with the governor.
The events mark a new era for DeSantis as he seeks to curry favor with Trump on his top campaign issue in the state that has become the center for the GOP universe. The infighting in Tallahassee also comes as Trump seeks to move his agenda through Washington at record speed using a flurry of executive orders and actions with an emphasis on immigration.
“You have a situation where DeSantis wants to push the best, strongest policy possible but you have a lot of people here who also have some political interests and they have to understand that Trump is driving the bus,” said Ford O’Connell, a Florida Republican........
© The Hill
