Florida Republicans are abandoning their pledge of loyalty to the eventual presidential candidate

The Florida Republican Party voted Friday to abandon a rule passed earlier this year that requires all 2024 presidential candidates to pledge their support to the eventual nominee if they want to participate in the state’s March 19 primary. several Points of sale reported.

The move is seen as a victory for a Florida man, former President Donald Trump, who has loudly refused to sign such a pledge, and a loss for his main rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has done so I’ve already signed one.

Pledges of loyalty have become a problem as infighting in the Republican Party creates a daunting prospect of uniting Republican voters behind a candidate in 2024.

At the national level, Republican leaders have pushed for the pledge. Candidates were told they would have to sign if they wanted to take part in the first Republican primary debate in Milwaukee last month. (Trump refused to sign but also refused to debate, thereby avoiding the issue.)

The Florida GOP quietly implemented a loyalty pledge in May. CNN reporteda move that gave DeSantis a boost.

Behind the scenes, however, Trump allies did it is said to have done lobbying The party association in Florida – Trump’s home state – reneged on its promise.

At Friday’s meeting, Trump supporters in Florida’s Republican Party predicted anarchy if the pledge was not dropped. One man said, “The Florida Republican Party would cease to exist.” according to Politico.

Another said: “People will be mad if we keep Trump out of the election.”