Ron DeSantis paid $95,000 to an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and his 2024 presidential campaign affiliates have given $95,000 to an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group in Iowa.

The Family Leader Foundation is affiliated with the Family Research Council, which has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. It is run by prominent evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats, whose endorsement is considered extremely influential for the Iowa caucuses, as according to Reuters, about two-thirds of Iowa caucus-goers in 2016 identified as evangelical.

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Campaign finance reports reportedly show that the $95,000 was paid collectively by the DeSantis campaign, the DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down, and a pro-DeSantis nonprofit called And to the Republic.

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$25,000 from the DeSantis campaign went to an ad in a commemorative booklet passed out at the event, as well as access to an after-event dinner with Tucker Carlson. $20,000 from And to the Republic bought a table at the after-event dinner, and $50,000 from Never Back Down got DeSantis a two-page ad and dinner tickets.

Former Iowa State University political science professor Steffen Schmidt said it’s “a lot more money” than a candidate would normally spend in Iowa. “It is a large amount for a very limited exposure in a booklet and for a single event,” he said.

The massive number has led many to question whether it was more about trying to buy Vander Plaats’ endorsement than the dinner events and booklets. But Vander Plaats has denied it was a bribe.

“My endorsement has never been and never will be for sale,” he told Reuters. “My only interest is in bold, courageous, principled leadership for this country.”

He added that the amount DeSantis spent was “not even close to exorbitant” and that his “only regret is that we probably should have charged more.”

DeSantis spokesperson Andrew Romeo said he is “proud to sponsor an ad with one of the largest and most effective social conservative groups in the state of Iowa.”

The last three Republicans endorsed by Vander Plaats – former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R), former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) – have gone on to win the Iowa caucus, though none nabbed the Republican nomination for president. In 2010, he also spearheaded a successful campaign to unseat three state Supreme Court Justices that were in favor of legalizing marriage equality in the state.

“Vander Plaats clearly understands his political power, his kingmaker status in Iowa, and how thirsty candidates are for his endorsement,” said lawyer and campaign finance expert Paul S. Ryan.

Republican candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) also decided the big spending was worth it, each spending $25,000 on ads in the commemorative booklet.

Former Vice President Mike Pence’s campaign, on the other hand, said the group was asking for far too much and declined to participate. Donald Trump – of whom Vander Plaats has been critical – also did not participate.