Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is betting he can use one of Donald Trump's biggest successes to turn voters against the former president.
Much of DeSantis’s rise to national prominence has been built on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The Republican star has sought to portray his state as “free Florida” — a place that got kids back into schools and allowed businesses like bars and restaurants to reopen much earlier than elsewhere. He has also opposed vaccine mandates that would make workers or students roll up their sleeves against their will.
DeSantis hasn’t formally declared that he is seeking the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, but his stance on vaccines is resonating with the growing ranks of Republican voters who are wary of COVID-19 shots and other inoculations. It has helped him win supporters beyond his home state, and set him apart from Trump, who is mounting his third White House run.
