<p>"Now, with Florida defying many of the gloomy projections of early 2020 and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/13/us/coronavirus-florida-booming.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">feeling closer to normal</a> as the pandemic continues to dictate daily life in many other big states, Mr. DeSantis, 42, has positioned himself as the head of "the free state of Florida" and as a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/28/us/politics/cpac-straw-poll-2024-presidential-race.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">political heir to former President Donald J. Trump</a>," <em>The Times</em> reported. "Mr. DeSantis's political maneuvering and extensive national donor network have allowed him to emerge as a top Republican candidate to succeed Mr. Trump on the ballot in 2024 if the former president does not run again. The governor's brand of libertarianism — or 'competent Trumpism,' as one ally called it — is on the ascent. Seizing on conservative issues du jour like opposition to social media "censorship" and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/02/us/florida-vaccine-passport-desantis.html" target="_blank" title="">vaccine passports</a>, he has forged strong connections with his party's base."</p><p>DeSantis is set to speak to GOP donors on Saturday night a Mar-a-Lago.</p><p>Read the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/10/us/politics/ron-desantis-republican-trump.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage" target="_blank">full report</a>.</p>
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