Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Says He Would Not Be Donald Trump’s Running Mate

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Florida) said that he would not be Donald Trump’s running mate, should Trump receive the Republican presidential nomination and invite him to join the ticket.

“I’m not a number two guy,” said DeSantis on the Wisconsin Right Now radio show. He went on to explain that he would rather continue serving as state governor than as vice president, claiming that the role “doesn’t really have any authority.”

DeSantis has become somewhat of a Trump critic since announcing his campaign for the presidency, stating a few weeks ago that he was unsure whether he would endorse Trump as the possible Republican nominee. 

A recent Florida Atlantic University poll showed that Trump is currently pulling ahead of DeSantis in Florida by 20 points, a startling setback for the state’s governor.

When asked if he had thought about a running mate, DeSantis dismissed the question as untimely.

“It’s a little bit presumptuous to be doing that at this stage,” he replied. “I’m here to win the early primaries, and that’s what we’ve got to do first.”

DeSantis is currently the only Republican candidate who is within striking distance to challenge Trump in the primaries, though surveys suggest that Trump will still have the upper hand.