Ron DeSantis humiliated as 6 Florida legislators switch their endorsements to Trump

In his long-shot candidacy to become the Republican presidential candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is getting handily beaten by former President Donald Trump. Recently, a handful of Florida state legislators flipped their allegiance from DeSantis to Trump, who has consistently beaten DeSantis in national and state polls by margins of 25% to 35%.

DeSantis is also losing ground to another fellow candidate, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley (R), as she has outranked him in polls of voters conducted in key battleground states.

Related:

Ron DeSantis compares elementary school teachers to Hamas terrorists

He says both groups are negatively influencing students with a “dangerous” ideology.

Six Republican state legislators recently switched their endorsements from DeSantis to Trump, according to The Messenger, including Sen. Debbie Mayfield, Rep. Jessica Baker, Rep. Webster Barnaby, Rep. Alina Garcia, Rep. Kevin Steele, and Rep. Randy Fine, one of DeSantis’ biggest allies in the state legislature.

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“This race is over, and people are basically trying to decide whether they want to join the winning team,” Florida state Sen. Joe Gruters (R), a Trump supporter, told Politico.

Gruters, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) are all supporting Trump. Trump touted the support of the state legislators at Florida’s Republican Party’s “Freedom Summit” event this last Sunday. Despite this, DeSantis still has 93 endorsements from Florida legislators.

Nevertheless, even Steve Avila — president of the Palm Beach County chapter of the anti-trans, gay conservative group the Log Cabin Republicans — said he was supporting Trump, even though Trump was the most anti-LGBTQ+ president of all time. Avila said that DeSantis should drop out of the presidential race: “He’s not going to win.”

A recent New York Times/Sienna College poll of registered voters showed DeSantis losing ground to Haley in the key battleground swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Additionally, DeSantis has been polling terribly in the first three states hosting GOP primary elections:  Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada.

Instead of talking about DeSantis’ policy positions, late-night comedians have clowned his handling of the so-called “Heelgate” nontroversy, public theorizing that he wears high-heeled lifts in his boots to make him appear taller.

Last month, Trump shared photos of DeSantis captioned, “Tell me he’s not wearing hidden heels.” DeSantis responded, “I’ll tell you this: If Donald Trump can summon the balls to show up to the debate, I’ll wear a boot on my head. This is a time for substance.”

Comedian John Oliver, host of the news commentary show Last Week Tonight, responded, “You can’t claim it’s a time for substance just after promising to wear a boot on your head.” He added, “You’re so bad at this! Even if you weren’t running against one of the world’s greatest bullies, it looks so pathetic that you thought that was a good comeback. Never before has a politician had such kid-with-a-rolling-backpack-wearing-a-tie-to-class energy.”

The next Republican TV debate is in Miami on Wednesday — Trump won’t attend, just as he skipped the last two debates. DeSantis recently said he would support Trump if Trump wins the nomination. Just several months away from the first Republican state primary elections, Trump’s victory seems all but certain.