Evan Power a ‘favorite’ to secure Donald Trump endorsement in CD 2

Sources close to President Donald Trump say he’s inching toward an endorsement in a Panhandle congressional race.

And it’s the Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power who will likely get the nod.

Many have eagerly checked Truth Social postings as the field to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn has grown.

“Many of the President’s closest friends and associates in Florida are supporting Evan Power for Congress,” a senior White House official told Florida Politics.

“The President likes Evan and respects the job he has done leading the Florida GOP. Right now, he’s the clubhouse favorite to win the endorsement of POTUS, although there is still time for things to develop.”

That suggests Trump could be close to hitting send on an endorsement of the sitting RPOF Chair in Florida’s 2nd Congressional District.

Power, of course, isn’t the only significant Republican in the race. Attorney Keith Gross, a former U.S. Senate candidate, was the first to file after Dunn announced his retirement. Austin Rogers, a former General Counsel to U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, has also jumped into the race.

Business owner Nick Lewis, Purple Heart veteran Luke Murphy, retired Washington County Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Audie Rowell and Gulf County Superintendent of Schools Jim Norton have all filed as well.

Trump has already issued endorsements. Indeed, on the same day, the White House spoke to Florida Politics, Trump endorsed a potential congressional run by Sydney Gruters in another open congressional race in Florida, the one to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan in Florida’s 16th Congressional District.

He hasn’t made any signals about who he could back in Florida’s 19th Congressional District, where U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is running for Governor instead of seeking re-election. But many expect his endorsement to narrow the large field there significantly.

And so far this election cycle, Trump’s endorsement has already had significant impacts in the Sunshine State. In Special Elections in Florida’s 1st and 6th Congressional Districts, Trump early on endorsed Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine, respectively. Both went on to win in landslides in the Republican Primaries before easily winning the heavily Republican seats in April last year.

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Peter Schorsch contributed to this report