Another Democratic governor is going after Ron DeSantis with a vengeance

Much has been reported on Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s attacks on far-right Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, fueling speculation on Newsom’s motivations — including a possible presidential run in 2024 if President Joe Biden doesn’t seek reelection. Polls of Republican voters find that DeSantis’ popularity with the GOP’s MAGA base continues to grow, and more and more of them would prefer DeSantis over former President Donald Trump in 2024’s GOP presidential primary. And some pundits are envisioning a possible Newsom/DeSantis battle in 2024, or perhaps 2028.

Now, another Democratic governor, Illinois’ J.B. Pritzker, is also going after DeSantis with a vengeance, according to Politico’s Gary Fineout.

In a report published on July 13, Fineout observes, “Well, look who’s headed to Florida: a blue-state governor who’s emerging as a potential presidential contender. lllinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is running for reelection this year, will be the keynote speaker at the annual Leadership Blue Gala that Florida Democrats will hold this Saturday in Tampa.”

READ MORE: 'You should join my class': Law professor schools Josh Hawley over 'transphobic' line of questioning

The Politico reporter adds that Pritzker’s visit to Florida “comes nearly two weeks after the mass shooting in Highland Park thrust him into the national spotlight.”

Fineout explains, “Pritzker’s reaction — where he said he was angry and furious about gun violence in the nation — was seen by some as an illustration of the type of passion Democrats need heading into the midterms and 2024…. Pritzker’s decision (to visit) Florida will also be sure to stoke long-running whispers about a possible presidential bid, especially since he’s spending time in the home state of Gov. Ron DeSantis, himself a potential GOP presidential candidate.”

DeSantis, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives before narrowly defeating Democratic former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum in Florida’s 2018 gubernatorial race, is up for reelection this year.

Fineout notes, “Pritzker, a billionaire with a second home in Florida, is visiting when Florida Democrats are bracing for a bad election season as they grapple with President Joe Biden’s poor polling numbers, a growing GOP voter registration edge and a lack of resources…. Pritzker’s keynote speech will come on the heels of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s splashy decision to air ads bashing DeSantis and urging Floridians to move to his state. In that case, DeSantis has fired back and is now even fundraising off Newsom’s attacks. Expect his campaign team to fashion their own greeting for Pritzker.”

READ MORE: House Republican asks if women give birth to turtles or tacos