The largest police union in the state of Florida has chosen to endorse Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president in 2024, after backing President Donald Trump in 2020.
“The ideological experiment of defunding the police and scapegoating law enforcement for America’s social problems has failed. Now more than ever, Americans must elect the one candidate for president who has a proven track record in enhancing public safety and investing in the essential men and women who help maintain public safety every day,” Kazanjian said. “For the over 30,000 men and women in the Florida Police Benevolent Association, the choice for us could not be clearer. Governor Ron DeSantis and his administration have made Florida a law-and-order state, by investing in and supporting the thousands of law enforcement officers, who serve on the front lines in keeping our communities safe and secure.”
2020 Endorsement
The Florida PBA’s endorsement could bolster DeSantis as he competes for the Republican presidential nomination. DeSantis is currently the second favorite in most primary polls to win the 2024 GOP nomination, behind Trump, who is seeking a return to the White House.Competing Law and Order Platforms
Trump and DeSantis have both emphasized law and order in their 2024 campaigns.Trump said he also wants to “wage war on the cartels” and have his Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security “dismantle every gang, street crew, and drug network in America.” DeSantis similarly said his administration would “hold the drug cartels accountable” and construct a border wall—a policy Trump famously pursued throughout his 2016 campaign and presidency.
Both candidates have also targeted prosecutors who decline to prosecute certain crimes.
In his February campaign statement, Trump said he would go after “radical Marxist prosecutors” who “are abolishing cash bail, refusing to charge crimes, and surrendering our cities to violent criminals.”
In August of last year, DeSantis ordered Florida state prosecutor Andrew Warren suspended after Warren “publicly proclaimed in writing that he will not prosecute individuals who provide abortions in violation of Florida’s laws to protect the life of the unborn child.”