Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had to pause his White House ambitions when he decided to suspend his campaign in January.
In spite of this, he managed to secure a respectable third place finish in his home state’s Republican primary on Tuesday.
A staggering 910,897 votes were cast by Republican voters, accounting for an impressive 81% of the total.
These numbers reflect the unwavering support for former President Donald Trump among his loyal base. Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador, garnered a total of 144,563 votes, which accounted for approximately 13% of the overall count.
DeSantis garnered a total of 41,234 votes, which accounted for a modest 3% of the overall count.
In the race between DeSantis and Haley, it is worth noting that six counties in Florida played a significant role in delivering more votes to DeSantis.
However, it is important to mention that these counties did not have a particularly high voter turnout for either candidate.
DeSantis secured 45 votes in Calhoun, 76 in Gilchrist, and 52 in Washington County, while Haley received 37, 67, and 45 votes in those respective areas.
In Leon County, the home of Tallahassee, the votes were divided with 17% in favor of Haley and 7% in favor of DeSantis.
DeSantis achieved a notable performance during the nominating process, particularly in the Iowa Caucus, where he secured a commendable second place.
The Florida governor campaigned extensively in Iowa, a state he frequently compared to his home state. Shortly after, he made the decision to suspend his campaign and throw his support behind Trump.
Haley announced the suspension of her campaign on March 6. Early voting commenced on March 9.
Although Trump emerged as the clear winner, it is worth noting that approximately 19% of voters opted for alternative candidates, including those who had already withdrawn from the race.
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