In a significant move towards the GOP nomination, former President Donald Trump received a major endorsement from the Florida Republican Party on Saturday. This marks the party's strongest support for Trump yet and follows Governor Ron DeSantis's recent withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race.

State Senator Joe Gruters, newly elected national committee member for the Republican National Committee, hailed the party's endorsement as a commanding statement. He emphasized that the race is now effectively over and the party is fully behind Trump. The motion to support Trump was proposed by Representative Dean Black, chair of the Duval County GOP, and was met with resounding applause and a standing ovation.

Though not present at the state GOP meeting near Tampa, Trump's dominance in his adopted home state has solidified with this endorsement. While former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is still in the race, Trump is widely considered the frontrunner for the Republican Party's nomination.

Rep. Black highlighted that the decision stems from the recognition of what the American people are demanding across the nation - Donald Trump as their nominee for President of the United States. The support from the state's congressional delegation and grassroots members played a crucial role in strengthening Trump's position.

The endorsement comes after a fierce primary battle between Trump and Governor DeSantis, where the former president strategically outplayed and mocked the incumbent governor in Florida. Despite DeSantis's resounding 19-point reelection victory in 2022, the GOP in Florida ultimately sided with Trump.

Many Republicans expressed relief following the endorsement, as there had been divided support among party members for the two leading candidates from Florida. County Chair Michael Thompson of Lee County welcomed the unity and expressed excitement for the general election campaign.

The Florida Republican Party had previously faced pressure to remove a provision from its bylaws that required candidates to pledge loyalty to the eventual GOP nominee. In September, top officials, under pressure from Trump backers, voted to eliminate this requirement.

Florida-based Trump senior adviser Brian Hughes stated that Trump "welcomed" the endorsement and stressed the special connection the former president has with the state. With Florida's solid Republican base, polling suggests Trump is ahead for the 2024 election. The Republican Party in Florida outnumbers Democrats by over 800,000 registered voters and aims to increase their numbers further in the coming months.

While Governor DeSantis endorsed Trump immediately after exiting the presidential race, he later raised doubts about the former president's chances due to a perceived lack of enthusiasm and criticized his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. DeSantis has since been actively engaging in events throughout the state, often targeting President Joe Biden's policies.

The recent endorsement of Trump by the Florida Republican Party concludes a period of upheaval for the party, which included the removal of former chair Christian Ziegler amidst a sexual assault investigation. Party members expressed excitement for the future and hope to put the recent controversies behind them.

As the race for the GOP nomination progresses, Trump's strong ties to Florida, combined with the party's resounding support, solidify his position as the favorite candidate. Yet, with other contenders still in the race, the road to securing the nomination remains dynamic and evolving.