Florida GOP to demand candidates support nominee to make primary ballot

Florida's Republican Party will require that presidential candidates agree to support the party's eventual nominee in order to make the primary ballot in March.

Though the party approved the requirement in May and included it in bylaws filed with the state, they have not been widely distributed, Politico noted. In order to appear on the ballot, a candidate must agree to endorse the primary's ultimate winner and not run as an independent or third-party candidate.

The current contest's top-two candidates, former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, both reside in the Sunshine State. A third candidate, Francis Suarez, serves as the mayor of Miami.

Candidates have until Nov. 22 to submit their pledge. The requirement echoes that of the Republican National Committee to appear on the first debate stage.

Several of the major candidates, including both Trump and DeSantis, have not committed to supporting the eventual Republican nominee.

At present, Trump stands as the clear frontrunner in the contest, leading closest rival DeSantis by an average 32.1%, according to RealClearPolitics.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.