Hours after submitting federal paperwork declaring that he was working for president — and shortly earlier than his plan for a Twitter livestream to launch his marketing campaign went haywire — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a Florida elections invoice that cleared a possible hurdle.
Florida’s so-called resign-to-run statute may have compelled Mr. DeSantis to resign after he sought the presidency, despite the fact that the authorized questions surrounding the rule have by no means been totally settled.
However state lawmakers clarified the law’s language late final month in order that it not applies to elected officers working for president or vp. Democrats accused Republicans in Tallahassee of doing a favor for the governor, although with Republican supermajorities controlling each chambers, there was little they might do to cease the measure. Republicans mentioned the outdated legislation was imprecise, and authorized consultants have been divided about whether or not it could have utilized to Mr. DeSantis.
The change to the resign-to-run statute was included in a broader elections invoice. It additionally comprises provisions limiting how third-party teams can register voters.
Voting rights teams have criticized the invoice. The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida mentioned it could damage voter-registration organizations “by dramatically rising fines, implementing shorter deadlines on voter registration kinds, and limiting who can help with voter registration drives,” with a selected impact on efforts to enroll voters of coloration.
Reflecting his now twin roles as presidential candidate and governor, Mr. DeSantis spent the morning in Tallahassee listening to clemency requests from folks convicted of felonies. At 6 p.m. Jap, he’s anticipated to go on Twitter and be a part of Elon Musk, the platform’s billionaire proprietor, to debate his candidacy.
