How Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Talks About His Own Catholic Faith on the Presidential Campaign Trail
U.S. News & World Report GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) As Ron DeSantis wrapped up a 12-stop campaign tour that began in an Iowa evangelical church and ended here in a South Carolina convention center, dozens of pastors met backstage to pray for the presidential candidate. Later, to the 1,500 people in the auditorium, DeSantis closed out his speech with a paraphrased Bible verse: I will fight the good fight, I will finish the race, and I will keep the faith.
The governors religious rhetoric and hard-charging policies are at the center of his outreach to white evangelicals an important voting bloc in the early GOP nominating contests. When it comes to his own Catholicism, DeSantis is more guarded, rarely mentioning his specific faith practices.
I dont think hes a wear-your-religion-on-your-sleeve kind of guy, said Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote, a conservative advocacy organization that hosted a fall rally for DeSantis.
Burch argue DeSantis policies are the true measure of his faith, from Floridas six-week abortion ban to a spate of laws targeting LGBTQ+ rights: Perhaps a good Scripture reference that may describe him is, By their fruits you shall know them.
