DeSantis First Presidential Candidate to Release Most of Delegate Slate
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Peoria County Lincoln Day Dinner in May. (Photo: Peoria Journal Star)
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The Illinois campaign operation of Florida’s Republican Governor and GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis have claimed to be the only campaign with a full slate of delegates and alternates for the March primary.
We reported last week both DeSantis and the Donald Trump campaign were “close” to filling a full slate of 51 delegates and 51 alternates, who are elected to nominate a presidential candidate at each party convention. The actual candidate race is a preference and has no practical effect on the nomination.
Candidates began circulating petitions for the March primary this weekend.
The DeSantis campaign released their list of delegates last night. Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris), Sen. Win Stoller (R-East Peoria), Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley), and Rep. Bill Hauter (R-Morton) are the current elected legislators passing petitions for DeSantis.
Former Sen. Mike Connelly and former Reps. Avery Bourne, Ray Poe, Jason Huffman, and Tom Morrison are also DeSantis delegates.
2022 GOP congressional candidates Keith Pekau, Chris Dargis, and Scott Gryder are also on board the DeSantis delegate team.
Far right “Awake Illinois” and “Moms for Liberty” leader Shannon Adcock is also on the DeSantis roster.
The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for their delegates Monday.
Sen. Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) says he is considering a run for delegate for former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley. Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) is running for delegate for South Carolina Senator Tim Scott.