SALT LAKE CITY — Two Weber County lawmakers, Reps. Mike Schultz and Ryan Wilcox, are among 86 elected officials in Utah urging Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to consider a U.S. presidential bid in 2024.

“I think a lot of us just feel like (DeSantis) is the most prepared of those who are considering that role,” said Wilcox, from Ogden.

Schultz, from Hooper, said he was swayed to the DeSantis camp after former President Donald Trump, expected to announce Tuesday that he plans to run again for president in 2024, criticized the Florida governor in the lead up to Election Day, Nov. 8. Trump derided DeSantis as “Ron De-Sanctimonious” during a Nov. 5 rally in Pennsylvania.

“There’s certainly a lot less drama, or no drama, with DeSantis,” said Schultz. “I’m just tired of drama.”

For Utah County Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner, it boils down to principles.

“DeSantis is a strong conservative who proved he can win independent voters. He’d be a great President and a great leader for the Republican party,” Powers Gardner said.

Utah Sens. Todd Weiler, Mike McKell and Daniel McCay issued a statement Monday encouraging DeSantis, a Republican, to consider a bid. In the statement, they identified 83 other Utah elected officials who also favor DeSantis, including Wilcox and Schultz

“We recognize the need for a strong leader to guide and direct our nation, someone with a proven track record, strong conservative foundation and who understands the operations of state government,” reads the statement from Weiler, McKell and McCay. “We need a leader who will strengthen and unify the nation.”

Wilcox said the rumblings among Utah GOPers for DeSantis have heightened in the aftermath of the midterm elections, which didn’t go as well for Republicans across the country as anticipated by most pundits. “I think the midterms were underwhelming,” Wilcox told the Standard-Examiner.

Wilcox touted DeSantis’ background — as a member of the U.S. House before becoming Florida governor, as a U.S. Navy JAG officer and as a graduate of Harvard Law School. “I think there are a lot of Republicans who feel Gov. DeSantis is our best shot,” he said.

The statement on Monday from the three Utah senators made no mention of Trump. Wilcox said his stance on DeSantis “has nothing to do with Donald Trump.”

Schultz, though, expressed a measure of exasperation with Trump. “I just think we need someone who will try to unite the nation, basically, and the Republican Party, and I think DeSantis is the one,” said Schultz, who also serves as the majority leader in the Utah House.

Of the 86 Utah officials encouraging DeSantis to consider a bid, 35 have ties to Utah County. Among them, in addition to Powers Gardner, McKell and McCay, are Sens. Jake Anderegg, Curtis Bramble, Mike Kennedy, Kirk Cullimore and Derrin Owens; Reps. Brady Brammer, Jefferson Burton, Kay Christofferson, Jon Hawkins, Marsha Judkins, Jefferson Moss, Keven Stratton and Doug Welton; Rep.-elect Stephanie Gricius; Mayors Julie Fullmer, Mark Johnson, Mike Mendenhall and Bill Wright; Utah County Clerk/Auditor John Daniels; Utah County Auditor-elect Rod Mann; city council members Stacy Beck (Spanish Fork), Mark Hales (Bluffdale), Paul Hancock (Lehi), Ben Hillyard (Woodland Hills), Kari Malkovich (Woodland Hills), Kevin Oyler (Spanish Fork), Terry Peterson (Orem), Scott Smith (Highland), Seth Sorensen (Salem) and Todd Williams (Pleasant Grove); Utah County Commissioner-elect Brandon Gordon and Utah State Auditor John Dougall, formerly a state representative based in American Fork.

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