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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – US Republican Republican candidate Ron DeSantis has resigned from Congress, an aide to US House Speaker Paul Ryan said Monday.
FILE PHOTO: Republican candidate for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a Make America Great Again rally at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida, United States, July 31, 2018. REUTERS / Carlos Barria / File Photo
Ryan received a letter from DeSantis informing him of the resignation, which takes effect immediately, the assistant said. His reason for resigning now was not immediately available.
DeSantis' term in the House would have expired in January, whether or not he won the governorship in Florida.
His Democratic opponent for the governor is Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is black. Towards the end of last month, it was reported that DeSantis had made a racial remark by referring to Gillum. DeSantis denied that this remark was racist.
On Monday, the Washington Post reported that DeSantis was once a speaker at events organized by a conservative columnist who said that African-Americans owe their freedom to whites.
The November 6 election between DeSantis, which was approved by President Donald Trump, and Gillum is considered too close to the call.
Reportage by Richard Cowan; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Paul Simao
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