Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pulled out of a fundraiser for New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin at the last minute on Sunday, with a spokeswoman for the GOP candidate citing an “unforeseen tragedy.”
The popular Florida governor has been traveling around the country attending rallies for Republican candidates and was expected to appear at a $25,000-a-plate Long Island fundraiser for Zeldin, according to the New York Post.
“An unforeseen tragedy forced Governor DeSantis to reschedule his trip to New York,” spokeswoman Katie Vincentz said, according to the newspaper. “While we’re rescheduling with Governor DeSantis for a later date, tonight’s fundraiser will proceed and is expected to raise almost a million dollars.”
Vincentz did not elaborate any further.
The social media accounts for DeSantis and his campaign make no mention of any incident, nor does his outspoken, laser-quick rapid response director Christina Pushaw.
While it may not be related, Florida’s first lady tweeted Sunday evening, “Saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Jason Jenkins, @MiamiDolphins Senior VP. I had the pleasure of speaking with Jason about our Resiliency FL initiative — I greatly appreciated his kindness and support.”
Jenkins, 47, was the senior vice president of communications and community affairs for the NFL team and died suddenly on Saturday.
Zeldin is running against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has taken it upon herself to target not only DeSantis, but the state of Florida itself.
“We’re here to say that the era of Trump and Zeldin and [Marc] Molinaro — just jump on a bus and head down to Florida where you belong. OK? Get out of town. Because you don’t represent our values,” she said last week.
Hochul even did so at a recent event commemorating the Holocaust.
“I just want to say to the 1.77 million Jews who call New York home: Thank you for calling New York home,” Hochul said, according to the Post. “Don’t go anywhere or to another state. Florida is overrated.”
She also said during a radio interview, “You know anybody who’s in Florida who put their kids in public school down there?”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.