GOP gubernatorial hopeful Ron DeSantis is coming to The Villages this Saturday.
The former congressman was supposed to be in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown last weekend but he canceled the event to spend time with residents in the Panhandle after Hurricane Michael devastated the area. His campaign collected needed goods for those residents and is continuing to do so.
Saturday’s rally will be held at La Hacienda Recreation Center. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the program lasts until 2:30 p.m. DeSantis, who will discuss his vision for the Sunshine State, will be joined by Rep. Jeanette Nuñez, who is running for lieutenant governor.
Those wishing to register for the event should visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/desantis-nunez-rally-in-the-villages-registration-51410271506.
Residents who are unable to RSVP via Eventbrite may be able to register at the event pending capacity. Previous tickets are not valid, so those wishing to see DeSantis must sign up using the new link above.
Due to special security, large bags, homemade banners and signs, firearms and large recording/audio devices will not be allowed into the recreation center.
This visit marks DeSantis’ second to The Villages since announcing his gubernatorial campaign. In July, he attended a packed-house Villagers for Trump event at the Laurel Manor Recreation Center. That visit, which came on the eve of a rally he was attending with President Trump in Tampa, had the crowd on its feet cheering throughout his 20-minute speech.
After the event, DeSantis talked about the importance of having an endorsement from the president.
“He doesn’t get involved in a lot of races but I think this was one where he was impressed with my leadership ability,” DeSantis said. “Florida is his second home, so I think it’s a state that matters a lot to him.”
In the Aug. 28 primary election, GOP voters in The Villages clearly showed their support for the Navy veteran. In fact, he beat Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who was heavily backed by The Villages Developer, in every precinct here. And he won 24 of 26 precincts in Sumter County.
Last month, DeSantis’ wife, Casey, also paid a visit to the community when she spoke to the Republican Federated Women of The Villages. At that Sept. 21 event, Casey DeSantis appeared with GOP Attorney General hopeful Ashley Moody and regaled the audience of nearly 100 Republican women with details from the campaign trail.
DeSantis’ Democratic rival, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, also was supposed to be in The Villages for an event last Saturday but he canceled his appearance to stay home and help those hit hardest by the hurricane.
Like DeSantis, Gillum, who recently picked up an endorsement of notorious trial attorney John Morgan of Morgan & Morgan, is no stranger to The Villages. He was last here in May when he attended a Governor’s Forum sponsored by The Villages Democratic Club at the Savannah Center.
