Gaines backs DeSantis for tackling 'woke' ideology
As Florida's Governor DeSantis embarked on the early stages of his campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination, on June 1 it emerged that he'd picked up another endorsement for his campaign, this time from University of Kentucky women's swimming champ Riley Gaines.
Gaines - who has become a vocal critic of recent trends in transgender athletes competing in - and occasionally dominating - women's sports, quoted DeSantis and his focus on tackling so-called 'woke' ideologies as the main reason why she's backing him for the White House, stating:
"His leadership has been crucial in rooting out the radical ideology that is driving this insanity... And bringing visibility to these cultural issues that effect the breakdown of families, the breakdown of faith, and the breakdown of freedoms."
In March of 2022, DeSantis also famously declared that the true champion of an NCAA swimming race that had been claimed by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, was in fact won by Emma Weyant - a Floridian athlete.
It is likely these kinds of decisions and statements that have earned DeSantis the attention and appreciation of those like Riley Gaines who are keen to draw attention to their view of injustice in women's sports.
Republicans stand against woke ideology in sports
In April of this year, a large number of the most-outspoken Republicans - almost 100 of them - co-sponsored a bill to prevent biological males from competing in women's sports. The bill - HR 734 - was expected to pass through voting along partisan lines. Whether it will ever formally pass into law remains to be seen, but there's a clear sense that this represents the spirit of the GOP and its voters at present.
For figures like Riley Gaines, who are personally affected by the inclusion of transgender athletes in their sports, it seems likely that the policies of politicians like Ron DeSantis could prove appealing matters that sway them to vote for him.
An announcement that will anger Trump?
Meanwhile, there seems a good chance that the announcement by Gaines will anger the one-term former president - Donald Trump - who had previously stood alongside Gaines at the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) conference earlier this year.
Republican voters across the United States are likely becoming accustomed to Trump decrying anyone who doesn't stand alongside him, as RINOs - Republicans In Name Only.
The one-term former president has been even more vocal than usual ever since Ron DeSantis formally declared his candidacy for the White House. As the announcement was forthcoming, Georgia's Marjorie Taylor-Greene - one of Trump's fiercest and most-loyal advocates - declared that in her opinion, DeSantis "is not a serious candidate".
Time will tell if the growing list of political and celebrity endorsements received by Ron DeSantis is enough to secure him the Republican nomination.
Do you think that endorsements from figures like Riley Gaines will be beneficial to Ron DeSantis as he campaigns for the Republican nomination? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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