Ron DeSantis joins White House race via messy Twitter technical launch

Ron DeSantis has officially announced his candidacy for the 2024 White House race, although technical glitches delayed the start of his Twitter livestream by 20 minutes. The Governor of Florida used the event to highlight his opposition to lockdowns and his education reforms. He pledged his intention to lead the “great American comeback” as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination. 

DeSantis is seen as a key rival to former president Donald Trump for the Republican nomination, despite Trump still being ahead by more than 30 points in national opinion polls.  He has gained political prominence relatively quickly, serving as a representative before being elected governor of Florida in 2018. During his time in the role, he enacted significant laws promoting gun ownership, limiting sex and gender identity education and restricting abortion access. DeSantis aims to position his “Florida Blueprint” as a model for conservative federal policies. 

According to Reuters news agency figures, at one point the Twitter talk drew more than 600,000 listeners, but by the end, there were fewer than 300,000. 

DeSantis’s press secretary Bryan Griffin claimed the online event raised more than $1 million in an hour.