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Ron DeSantis Resigning from Congress to Focus on Governor’s Race

Florida Republican facing national media scrutiny in his race against Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum

Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Florida Rep. Ron DeSantis is resigning from Congress to focus on his run for governor, his campaign said Monday.

In a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan released by his campaign, DeSantis asked for his resignation to take effect immediately. 

DeSantis said in his letter that he would miss, “The vast majority” of the remaining days that Congress is in session, and it would be, “inappropriate,” for him to continue to pull a salary.

The three-term GOP congressman has been attracting national media attention since he won his Florida primary three weeks ago, setting up a hotly contested November race against progressive Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum.

Democrat Nancy Soderberg and Republican Michael Waltz, meanwhile, were essentially tied in the race to take his open seat in a poll commissioned by the Democrat’s campaign.

President Donald Trump carried the district by double digits in 2016.

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