In order to attend the burial of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent slain in the line of duty, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis cancelled a $25,000-per-plate fundraiser for New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin on Sunday, according to sources.
Governor DeSantis had to cancel his travel to New York due to an unanticipated tragedy, Zeldin spokesperson Katie Vincentz said in a statement to the New York Post on Monday. Despite the fact that we are rescheduling with Governor DeSantis for a later time, tonight’s event will still go through and is projected to raise close to $1 million.
The Post and other media outlets later confirmed that DeSantis skipped the Sunday night fundraiser in Oyster Bay, Long Island, in order to attend the funeral on Monday for Special Agent Jose Perez of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, who recently passed away in a car accident while responding to a call.
We grieve the unfortunate death of FDLE Special Agent Jose Perez, who died in the line of duty, Casey DeSantis, the governor of Florida’s governor of DeSantis, said on Twitter on Monday.
He served our country and state for more than 20 years in the U.S. military services and more than 30 years in police enforcement, she added.
In the general election in November, Zeldin, a member of the House of Representatives, will face Kathy Hochul, a Democrat who is presently serving as governor of New York. Trump is supporting Zeldin.
Last month, a man attempted to knife Zeldin on stage at one of his gatherings with supporters, making headlines for his campaign. Zeldin’s assailant was detained, although he was unharmed.
According to reports, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis withdrew from a $25,000-per-plate fundraiser on Sunday for New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin due to a “unforeseen tragedy.”
Hochul has intensified her criticism of Republicans and advised some of them to return to Florida.
Additionally, she criticized DeSantis by saying: “I simply want to say to the 1.77 million Jews who call New York home: Thank you for calling New York home,” during a commemoration of the Holocaust. Don’t leave the state or go elsewhere. Florida is not worth it.
Ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, New York is one of the Democrat states vigorously defending the right to an abortion.
Democrat Charlie Crist, a member of the House, will be DeSantis’ opponent in November, it was announced last week.
Voters last week selected Crist over the state’s progressive and outspoken Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. Crist was a registered Republican when he previously spent one term as governor of Florida more than ten years ago.
Special Agent Jose Perez of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was recently slain while responding to a call.
In addition to calling DeSantis a “want tobe dictator” and a “extremist,” Crist told supporters on election night that the governor “just cares about the White House.” He has no interest in your home.
Republican who has emerged as one of his party’s rising stars is widely expected to run for president in 2024.
In recent interviews, he has claimed that his emphasis is on defeating Crist later this year. He has previously avoided queries about his desire to serve in the White House.
Republican House candidate Zeldin is seeking to defeat Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul.
But in recent months, DeSantis has continued to exercise his significant influence in primaries all over the nation.
He just wrapped off hosting a series of events for GOP candidates in several crucial swing states under the banner of “Unite and Win,” organized by Turning Point Action.
This includes speaking engagements with Arizona senatorial prospect Blake Masters and gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake; for JD Vance’s Senate campaign in Ohio; for Doug Mastriano’s candidacy for governor of Pennsylvania; and for Republican candidates in New Mexico.
DeSantis is entering his own campaign against Crist with a substantially larger war money.
More than $172 million has been raised for DeSantis’ re-election campaign, an amazing sum even for a national candidate, much alone a state competitor.
In contrast, Crist has earned little over $24 million.