DeSantis hints at 7-2 conservative SCOTUS in talk to religious broadcasters.

Gov. DeSantis Teases Possibility of 7-2 Conservative Majority on Supreme Court

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) hinted at the possibility of a 7-2 conservative majority on the Supreme Court in a speech to the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Orlando, Florida. He noted that the next president could have to replace Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, or Sonia Sotomayor, which would shift the balance of the court. DeSantis praised Thomas and Alito as the “gold standard” for justices and warned against replacing them with someone like Chief Justice John Roberts. The Supreme Court is expected to be a major issue in both the Republican primaries and the general election.

DeSantis Defends Record as Governor of Florida

DeSantis also used his speech to defend his record as governor of Florida, including his handling of the pandemic and his support for school choice. He championed the most pro-family tax code in the country and touted his support for Israel while criticizing the movement to boycott and divest from the Jewish state. DeSantis also defended his parents’ rights legislation, arguing that parents have the right to know what curriculum is being used in their children’s classrooms. He called the idea of a book ban a “hoax” and defended his six-week abortion ban as “humane.”

DeSantis Expected to Enter Presidential Race

DeSantis is expected to enter the presidential race later this week and is currently polling second nationally among Republicans. He did not overtly mention a run for the White House in his speech, but his remarks on Supreme Court appointments could be seen as a campaign stump speech. DeSantis is expected to file paperwork for a 2024 presidential campaign after Memorial Day.

“American decline is not inexorable,” DeSantis said. “It is a choice.”

DeSantis concluded his speech by urging his audience to “put on the full armor of God, stand for the truth, and don’t ever, ever back down.”