Welcome to the DeSantis Watch, where we will keep you updated on all things DeSantis.

America’s worst kept political secret was finally revealed as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared his candidacy for the presidency of the United States.

Choosing to make the announcement on Twitter, DeSantis’ message was disrupted by glitches and technical difficulties. Twitter owner Elon Musk called it an “unfortunate” event as his newly acquired platform crashed under the weight of more than 600,000 log-ins.

A week later, during an appearance on Fox and Friends, DeSantis’ words came in loud and clear.

“I will be able to destroy leftism in this country and leave woke ideology on the dustbin of history,” he said on Memorial Day in Jacksonville.

Shevrin Jones, Florida’s first Black gay state Senator, said the danger DeSantis presents is clear and present.

“Don’t be fooled by DeSantis,” Jones said. “He’s just as much a danger to our democracy and the country as the indicted former president, and he shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near Pennsylvania Avenue.”

DeSantis enters a crowded Republican primary field with the elephant in the room residing in his own state. Former President Donald Trump is the odds-on favorite to win the nomination and his campaign has brushed off DeSantis as an “imposter.”

Joining Trump and DeSantis as declared candidates in the GOP field is former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and talk radio host Larry Elder.

On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden has two challengers: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and self-help author Marianne Williamson.

The DeSantis Watch is a weekly column following the 2024 presidential campaign.