DeSantis Will Headline Barbecue Billed because the Largest Annual Gathering of South Carolina Republicans

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to headline subsequent month a barbecue billed as South Carolina‘s largest annual gathering of Republicans.

This centerpiece look, in a state the place success has traditionally been a catalyst for GOP presidential nominees, supplies DeSantis with a possibility to make his case in entrance of a lot of get together activists, with whom former President Donald Trump, the GOP major front-runner, stays standard.

DeSantis will communicate Aug. 28 on the Religion & Freedom BBQ in Anderson, occasion host Rep. Jeff Duncan advised The Related Press on Thursday.

“I’ve had the privilege of realizing Ron for a number of years now,” mentioned Duncan, who represents South Carolina’s third Congressional District, including that he and DeSantis have been members of the Home Freedom Caucus. “In Florida, I’ve admired his work to guard youngsters, stand as much as woke companies, fight unlawful immigration, and problem the Biden administration.”

In accordance with Duncan’s workplace, the informal occasion is the state’s largest annual gathering of Republicans, sometimes drawing greater than 1,000 attendees. It options lengthy rows of picnic tables, copious candy tea and barbecue sides.

Sen. Tim Scott addressed the group final yr as anticipation for his personal eventual 2024 presidential bid started to construct.

The gathering will happen lower than every week after Republicans’ first 2024 primary debate in Milwaukee. DeSantis and half a dozen different GOP candidates — together with Trump, Haley and Scott — have mentioned they’ve certified for the talk stage, though Trump has indicated he probably will not attend. Pence has but to fulfill the requirement that members have at the least 40,000 distinctive donors.

Duncan is without doubt one of the few Republicans in South Carolina’s delegation not already aligned with a presidential candidate. Trump has secured the help of Reps. Joe Wilson, Russell Fry and William Timmons, together with Sen. Lindsey Graham. Haley has been endorsed by Rep. Ralph Norman.

Rep. Nancy Mace hasn’t but endorsed for the first.

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