If DeSantis Won’t Serve Full Term, Trump Ally Threatens To Run For FL Governor: Report

SOUTH FLORIDA — Roger Stone, President Donald Trump’s ally and former adviser, has threatened to run against Governor Ron DeSantis in Florida’s 2022 gubernatorial race if DeSantis doesn’t pledge to serve his full second term if re-elected.

The South Florida resident said he’d run for governor as a third-party candidate, possibly as a Libertarian, to take votes away from DeSantis, CBSMiami reported.

“Look, I have no illusions about my ability to become elected governor of Florida. That’s not the point here. I believe that Gov. DeSantis, assuming he’s going to run for reelection, should pledge to the people of Florida that he will fill out all four years of a second term,” Stone said Friday. “What I don’t want to see is for him to be reelected and then immediately abandon Florida to run off and run for president, particularly if he’s running against Donald Trump.”

DeSantis announced Monday that he’s filed the paperwork to run for re-election.

“Florida’s future is on the line (and) we have too much to lose to stop now. I've fought like hell to keep (Florida) free (and) I can tell you this: I've only begun to fight! Election Day is exactly (one) year away (and) freedom is on the ballot. Let’s do this,” he tweeted.

The governor’s name has also frequently come up as a potential presidential candidate in 2024 — especially if Trump decides against running again — though DeSantis has dismissed the rumors, calling them “speculation” and “purely manufactured” in September, according to Insider.

Even if Trump decides not to run, Stone told CBS that he hopes DeSantis isn’t eyeing a White House bid anytime soon.

“I think it would be disingenuous to run for re-election if you don’t didn’t intend to fulfill the job. I just don’t think Florida should be a steppingstone to the presidency for any person. I’d like to know that he is going to stay here and do the job,” Stone said.

Stone was found guilty of seven felony charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller as part of the Russia investigation, including witness tampering, making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation. Trump commuted his sentence in July 2020.