The 2024 election is still more than a year ago, with Iowa and New Hampshire looming next January, but for some Arizona Republicans, it is already time to get organized.
Participants at the Annual Maricopa County Republican Meeting were seen signing up at a table run by supporters of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his expected run for President.
While DeSantis has not announced a presidential run, supporters were sporting DeSantis 2024 hats and signing up to volunteer in exchange for DeSantis bumper stickers.
Supporters of DeSantis acknowledge that DeSantis is not an official candidate, but they believe he will run and want to be ready to go when the time comes.
“Time is a political campaign’s most precious commodity, so we’re not going to waste it waiting around.” said Constantin Querard, who helped to set up the table. “Frankly, there is a lot of positive energy where Governor DeSantis is concerned and people are ready to start organizing and getting ready, so we’re going to do just that and if and when the Governor decides to run, we will be ready.”
Not all State Committeemen were happy to see the booth. One Trump supporter called it “unneccesary,” saying that there was no need for a contested primary on the Republican side. “We don’t need anyone running against President Trump. He won in 2016, he won in 2020, and he will win again in 2024!”
Others welcomed the alternative. “We need someone who can win and DeSantis just crushed the Democrats in Florida. Democrats want Trump to run, they don’t want DeSantis because they’re scared of him.” said one committeewoman who said she voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020.
Querard said he would be at the State GOP Meeting in two weeks time to sign up additional supporters from around Arizona.