Should DeSantis step down to become president? Short answer: No.

Hours after filing federal paperwork declaring he was running for president — and shortly before his plan for a Twitter livestream to launch his campaign went haywire — Governor Ron DeSantis signed an election bill in Florida that would removed obstacle.

Florida’s so-called “resign-to-run” statute could have forced Mr. DeSantis to resign after seeking the presidency, even though the legal issues surrounding the rule have never been fully resolved.

But state lawmakers late last month clarified the language of the law so that it no longer applies to elected officials running for president or vice president. Democrats accused Republicans in Tallahassee of doing the governor a favor, though with Republican supermajorities controlling both chambers, there was little they could do to stop the measure. Republicans said the old law was vague, and legal experts were divided on whether it would have applied to Mr. DeSantis.

The amendment to the dismissal statute was included in a broader electoral bill. It also contains provisions that restrict how third-party groups can register voters.

Voting rights groups have criticized the bill. The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida said it would harm voter registration organizations “by dramatically increasing fines, introducing shorter deadlines on voter registration forms and limiting who can assist with voter registration,” with particular effect on efforts to recruit voters. report. of color.

Reflecting his now dual role as presidential candidate and governor, Mr. DeSantis spent the morning in Tallahassee hearing petitions for pardons from people convicted of felonies. At 6 p.m. Eastern, he is expected to take to Twitter and discuss his candidacy with Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of the platform.