Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has officially filed for the Republican primary election ballot in Texas, as the state’s election is just months away.
Current polling, however, suggests an uphill battle for DeSantis in the Lone Star State.
The filing was delivered by outgoing State Rep. Matt Schaefer (R–Tyler) at the Republican Party of Texas’ headquarters on Monday. Schaefer endorsed DeSantis in June during a visit to the southern border and is currently the only state lawmaker to do so.
Also at the table was Austin lobbyist Chad Wilbanks, who previously maintained Galveston County as a taxpayer-funded client and currently represents Wind Energy Transmission of Texas. As of publishing, DeSantis’ campaign did not comment on his presence at the event.
An October poll of likely Republican voters commissioned by Defend Texas Liberty shows Donald Trump receiving 58 percent of the vote. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was in a distant second with 11 percent, followed by DeSantis at 8 percent.
Trump, meanwhile, filed for the Texas ballot on the first day of filing, with his paperwork delivered by Attorney General Ken Paxton, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson.
Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott also endorsed Trump, joining Paxton, Miller, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham.
Dallas pastor Ryan Binkley has also filed for the Republican primary.
Filing ends on December 11.
