DeSantis to offer VIP access to his inauguration — for between $50K to $1 million

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s inauguration solemnisation is expected to beryllium dispersed retired implicit 2 days — and volition springiness up adjacent entree to donors consenting to lend betwixt $50,000 and $1 million, according to a breakdown of sponsorship packages.

Five donors who springiness $1 cardinal to the Republican Party of Florida volition beryllium recognized arsenic “inaugural chair” sponsors who volition person tickets to a candlelight meal the nighttime earlier the inauguration, VIP seating astatine the inauguration ceremonial held connected the steps of the Old Capitol arsenic good tickets to the inaugural shot and a “Toast to One Million Mamas,” the run radical enactment unneurotic by archetypal woman Casey DeSantis, and a photograph accidental with the governor.

Other packages — which scope successful size from $500,000 each the mode down to $25,000 — besides springiness entree to galore of the aforesaid events but donors won’t person arsenic galore tickets.

DeSantis’ adjacent word starts connected Jan. 3 and Florida’s governors are traditionally sworn successful astatine noon connected that day. The inauguration volition springiness DeSantis an accidental to show his fundraising prowess arsenic good arsenic his presumption arsenic the pb Republican alternate to erstwhile President Donald Trump, who has already declared that he’s moving for president.

DeSantis, who saw his Republican prima presumption emergence owed to his handling of Covid-19 pandemic policies and clashes with firm titans specified arsenic Disney, raised more than $200 million during the 2022 predetermination rhythm from some big- and small-dollar donors, a monolithic sum that positions him for a 2024 run. He had much than $60 cardinal near unspent, according to run reports filed past month.

DeSantis crushed his 2022 challenger Democrat Charlie Crist by astir 20 points successful the November predetermination and is present seen arsenic a apt GOP statesmanlike candidate, particularly aft Florida Republicans swept galore races during the past predetermination rhythm and outperformed the GOP nationwide. DeSantis is not expected to formally denote his candidacy until aft the regular league of the Florida Legislature.

But erstwhile DeSantis becomes a national candidate, his quality to rise ample amounts for Republicans successful his location authorities volition beryllium limited, meaning that the inauguration solemnisation whitethorn beryllium 1 of the past large events wherever helium tin assistance nonstop wealth to the authorities party. Florida doesn’t bounds however overmuch tin beryllium fixed to the authorities enactment and authorities governmental committee, nor does it barroom donations from corporations.

DeSantis held 2 days of events during his 2017 inauguration, which besides included an appreciation lawsuit for subject veterans and archetypal responders arsenic good arsenic a legislative luncheon that was held astatine the Florida Capitol extracurricular the main entranceway to the House and Senate chambers.

The database of events held successful 2017 and successful aboriginal 2023 are not rather arsenic extended arsenic those held by erstwhile Florida governors. Former Gov. Rick Scott successful 2011 held an inauguration parade arsenic good arsenic an unfastened location astatine the governor’s mansion. He brought backmost the inaugural shot — aft it was scrapped successful 2007 by incoming Gov. Charlie Crist owed to the economical situation astatine the time. Scott, 4 years later, held a six-city Jobs Jamboree that featured barbecues up of his 2nd inauguration.