A major GOP donor has halted his support for Ron DeSantis because of the governor’s extreme view on social issues including abortion and book banning, the Financial Times reported.
“I have put myself on hold,” billionaire Thomas Peterffy told FT. “Because of his stance on abortion and book banning . . . myself, and a bunch of friends, are holding our powder dry.”
Peterffy, who earlier this year said he was “looking forward” to supporting DeSantis’ presidential bid, now says the governor “seems to have lost some momentum” as he tries to appeals to the far-right wing of the Republican party.
“I am more reluctant to back him,” Peterffy said. “We are waiting to see who among the primary candidates is most likely to be able to win the general, and then put all of our firepower behind them.”
DeSantis has signalled that he plans to challenge Former President Donald Trump for the GOP nomination for president though he has yet to officially join the race.
In the meantime, DeSantis has notched several legislative victories in Florida—due to the GOP supermajority in both chambers of the state legislature— which could be advantageous in the GOP primary, but detrimental in a general election because they turn off moderate and independent voters.
Earlier this week, DeSantis signed a very unpopular six week abortion ban into law. Additionally, the governor regularly makes headlines for trying to limit discussions about race and sexuality in the classroom, banning books and trying to silence dissenting voices.
