Florida Realtors’ political arm endorses DeSantis for governor after he beats Putnam

The political arm of the Florida Realtors Association endorsed Republican nominee Ron DeSantis in his campaign for governor against Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum.

President Donald Trump also has endorsed DeSantis, who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 until this year.

Florida Realtors PAC had endorsed state agriculture commissioner Adam Putnam governor before he lost to DeSantis in the Aug. 28 primary election.

Similarly, the Realtors’ political arm endorsed state representative Matt Caldwell, the Republican nominee to replace Putnam as agriculture commissioner, after he beat state senator Denise Grimsley in the primary election.

Florida Realtors PAC continues to endorse the re-election of the state’s chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis, a Republican, and the election of Republican nominee Ashely Moody as state attorney general.

In the race for chief financial officer, Patronis faces Jeremy Ring, who trails in poll results and fund-raising.

But other candidates endorsed by the political arm of the Florida Realtors Association are in competitive races.

DeSantis narrowly trails Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee, in most polls. Nikki Fried and Sean Shaw, the Democratic nominees for agriculture secretary and attorney general, respectively, were easy winners in the primary “and have shown solid fund-raising so far,” the Florida Realtors PAC said in a press release.

The political arm of the Florida Realtors Association supports candidates that “defend private property rights, promote community prosperity and preserve a professional climate that ensures the economic growth of Florida,” said Florida Realtors PAC chair Ann DeFries said in a prepared statement. – Mike Seemuth