Tea Party Express Wants Ron DeSantis to Run for Senate

The Tea Party Express is the latest conservative group to call on U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. With Rubio announcing for the presidency on Monday, he is not expected to seek a second term. DeSantis said on Tuesday that he was exploring the possibility and several conservative groups quickly fell in line behind him.

"When we first endorsed Ron DeSantis for Congress in 2012, it was because he promised to challenge the status quo with bold, conservative leadership, said Taylor Budowich, the executive director of the Tea Party Express, on Tuesday afternoon. He has done just that. Sen. Rubio will be greatly missed, but a DeSantis candidacy would give tea partiers throughout Florida a competitive, conservative choice to replace him. Not only is DeSantis solid on the key economic issues, he also is a hard-working candidate who can be elected statewide in Florida. We are excited and encouraged by this exciting development."