DeSantis qualifies for GOP primary ballot in 36 states and territories

EXCLUSIVE — Gov. Ron DeSantis‘s (R-FL) name will be on Republican primary ballots in 36 states or territories, now including Wisconsin, Illinois, and Puerto Rico, according to his campaign.

DeSantis’s ballot access operation is another example of how he has the resources and grassroots organization to beat former President Donald Trump for the 2024 nomination, according to his campaign.

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“DeSantis continues to out-work and out-organize the competition all across the country as his message to fight for the American people, win on the issues that improve their everyday lives, and lead our nation into a brighter future continues to resonate,” DeSantis communications director Andrew Romeo told the Washington Examiner.

The Colorado Supreme Court and Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’s decisions to remove Trump from their states’ respective ballots under the Constitution’s 14th Amendment insurrection clause has underscored the importance of access. The U.S. Supreme Court announced Friday that it will consider the former president’s appeal in the Colorado case.

Ballot applications are complicated and differ depending on the state. For example, states, such as Illinois, Maine, Tennessee, and Virginia, require grassroots support. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie did not qualify in Maine, and former biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy failed to do so in Illinois.

“Vivek is on track to be on the ballot in all 50 states, except Illinois,” Ramaswamy spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said. “Before the Illinois primary on March 19, Vivek will have competed in 30 contests. He will compete in 31 in the month of March alone.”

The 2024 primary process has been further complicated by politics, particularly regarding calendars — at least on the Democratic side, after President Joe Biden promoted South Carolina to be the party’s first nominating contest at New Hampshire’s expense — and increasing distaste for caucuses. Nevada, traditionally a caucus state, for instance, also will hold a primary election, but the state Republican Party will only award delegates for the GOP nomination from the caucuses. Trump, DeSantis, and Ramaswamy will take part in the caucus, whereas former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley will participate in the primary.

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“While they may still play in the corrupt Illinois elections, Nikki Haley didn’t bother to qualify in Nevada, and Chris Christie couldn’t figure out how to qualify in Maine,” McLaughlin said. “Illinois delegates represent just 2.5% of the national total.”

Haley aides did not respond to a request for comment.