DERRY — With less than a week to go until the New Hampshire primary, Gov. Ron DeSantis was endorsed again by Derry Republican state representatives Erica Layton and Jodi Nelson.
“I endorsed DeSantis early on,” said Nelson. “I think it goes back to that Gov. DeSantis is a results-driven person. I really appreciate what he’s done with the Florida economy and their debt. I think it’s really important for a president to set that precedent for the nation.”
She and Layton were among the roughly 100 people gathered in the function hall of LaBelle Winery to show their support for the Florida governor.
DeSantis’ town hall speech focused on his record of lowering Florida’s debt, supporting second amendment rights, and cracking down on illegal immigration at his Never Back Down town hall at LaBelle Winery in Derry on Wednesday night.
“We’ve shown I have the ability to be the leader that the country needs,” DeSantis said. “I’m also the only one running who’s delivered on 100% of his promises … you entrust me with your vote and elect me into office, and I proceed to get into office and do what I told you I would do.”
Layton was one of three people who spoke before DeSantis’ speech, saying she felt he would bring good things to the nation. She said his policies during the Covid-19 pandemic saw that there was danger not only to the health of citizens, but to local economies.
Layton said she appreciated DeSantis’ ability to stand up for his constituents and fight for them.
“I’m not saying all this as just a state representative,” Layton said. “He succeeded in pushing back and saved his home. Look at what he said he’d do in Florida, he’s done every single one of those things.”
Layton sat on the risers with faithful DeSantis supporters as the governor spoke, her 4-year-old son on her lap waving a DeSantis banner.
With the primary quickly approaching on Jan. 23, DeSantis stuck to his guns, literally in some cases, in his speech.
He responded to a question posed about a national right-to-carry law, which he said he fully supported. DeSantis said it was ridiculous that gun owners in New Hampshire could drive with their firearm in their car halfway down the coast of the country, be pulled over in a state like New Jersey, and be charged with a felony.
“This is a constitutional right,” DeSantis said. “I think it’s just a basic protection of constitutional liberties. If [the government] is going to criminalize something against you, then [elected representatives] need to be the ones to vote on it, and you can vote them out if you don’t like it.”
It was responses like this that ultimately drew Nelson to endorse DeSantis. She said she was tired of having to justify why she liked former president Donald Trump.
“I was tired of apologizing for President Trump’s behavior and saying, ‘Well, he had these results or that result, but you have to look past his persona,’” Nelson said. “I felt there was a point where it started to reflect poorly on myself.”
Nelson said DeSantis’ policies are just as good as his personality and his attitude. Those are two major reasons she finds more palatable than Trump, and why she can support DeSantis over Trump.
“As President of the United States, I feel like you have to have a certain amount of decorum and be a respectful person to everybody,” Nelson said. “Governor DeSantis is that type of man.”