Lummis: DeSantis is leader of the Republican Party 

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) on Monday declared that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, not former President Trump, is the chief of the Republican Occasion, signaling GOP help is shifting away from Trump within the wake of the 2022 midterm election.  

Requested by a reporter for Politico whether or not she would endorse Trump, Lummis replied, “I don’t suppose that’s the correct query.”  

“I believe the query is who’s the present chief of the Republican Occasion. Oh, I do know who it’s: Ron DeSantis,” she mentioned.  

“I’m saying at present, Ron DeSantis is the chief of the Republican Occasion, whether or not he desires to be or not,” she defined.  

Lummis’s assertion got here as a brand new ballot commissioned by Membership for Progress Motion reveals DeSantis main Trump in two key states, Iowa and New Hampshire, which historically host the primary two contests of the presidential main.  

The ballot of 508 doubtless Iowa Republican caucus voters performed from Nov. 11 to Nov. 13 reveals DeSantis main Trump 48 % to 37 %, with 16 % undecided. It’s a marked enchancment for DeSantis, who trailed Trump 37 % to 52 % amongst Iowa Republican caucus voters in August.  

The ballot of 401 doubtless New Hampshire Republican main voters throughout the identical November time-frame reveals DeSantis main Trump 52 % to 37 %, with 11 % undecided. An August Membership for Progress Motion ballot confirmed Trump and DeSantis tied at 45 % in New Hampshire.  

This month’s Membership for Progress Motion ballot additionally confirmed DeSantis main Trump by an enormous margin in Florida, 56 % to 30 % with 14 % undecided.  

Fifty-five % of doubtless Republican main voters in Georgia mentioned they favored DeSantis, whereas 35 % mentioned they favored Trump, in keeping with the Membership for Progress Motion ballot.  

Some Senate Republicans, nevertheless, nonetheless help Trump, together with Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who advised reporters Monday that he’ll again Trump’s presidential bid if he broadcasts one this week.  

Different Republicans, reminiscent of Senate Minority Whip John Thune (S.D.), are staying impartial for now. 

“The ‘24 [election cycle] will get underway a lot quickly. I assume there can be fairly sturdy competitors on the Republican aspect when the time comes,” Thune mentioned.  

Requested if he would name on Trump to not run once more, Thune mentioned, “It’s a free nation, and he’ll do what he’s going to do.”  

“I’m not endorsing anyone at this level,” he mentioned.