Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has taken a major step in recent days toward his widely expected announcement in the coming weeks that he will launch a 2024 presidential campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DeSantis severed his connection on Friday to his state political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis, and the $86 million that it controls, a necessary step toward running for president, POLITICO reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DeSantis cannot use that money in a federal race because state law does not limit how much a person can give to the committee, the report said. However, that money can be shifted to a super PAC that backs DeSantis \u2014 like the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down, which raised over $30 million in just its first few weeks being in operation \u2014 if the governor is no longer affiliated with the committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The committee updated its site on Tuesday and now says that it is affiliated with state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R) and not DeSantis. Ingoglia is a top ally of the 44-year-old governor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFriends of Ron DeSantis is a statewide political committee that is committed to advancing the Freedom Agenda and keeping Florida free,\u201d the committee\u2019s website states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ingoglia said<\/a> in a statement that it was \u201can honor to serve as chairman of this political committee \u2014 we will continue to be a pro-parent, pro-student organization committed to protecting parental rights and advancing the Freedom Agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis political committee will put children first, bolster and protect parental rights in education, and it will focus on electing the right candidates fighting to safeguard our kids from woke and divisive material in our classrooms,\u201d he added. \u201cI look forward to helping get these candidates across the finish line.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n DeSantis and former President Donald Trump are by far the top two leading candidates for the 2024 Republican Party nomination for president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n