Tallahassee, FL – Florida Republicans are introducing legislation to exempt presidential candidates from Florida’s resign-to-run law, allowing Governor Ron DeSantis to run for president without having to leave office.
The proposal would exempt presidential candidates from Florida’s resign-to-run law, which currently prohibits elected officials from qualifying as a candidate for another office that would overlap with their current term.
This move has been highly anticipated by political analysts and pundits, as Governor DeSantis has been widely speculated to be considering a presidential run in 2024.
The formal introduction of the legislation marks one of the clearest signals yet that the governor is indeed planning to enter the race.
With Republicans holding a supermajority in the Florida statehouse, the legislation is expected to pass easily.
The proposal to change the resign-to-run law was filed by a GOP ally of Governor DeSantis as an amendment to a larger Republican election law package that is expected to reach the Senate floor later this week.
The leaders of both the House and Senate have already expressed their willingness to change the law, which would clear the path for Governor DeSantis to enter the presidential race while remaining in his current position.
This move by Florida Republicans is not without precedent.
In 2007, the Republican-controlled Legislature changed the law to prevent problems for then-Governor Charlie Crist, who was being considered as a possible running mate for Republican John McCain in 2008.
Crist later became a Democrat and challenged Governor DeSantis for reelection last year.
Florida’s law has been in place since 2001 and has forced many elected officials to resign from their current positions in order to run for higher office.
