Magnet Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, has reportedly raised $20 million since launching his presidential campaign at the end of May. Though this amount is significantly lower than the estimated $35 million raised by his rival, former President Donald Trump, it is still a sizeable sum for the Florida governor who has been at the centre of numerous controversies since announcing his candidacy.

DeSantis has drawn criticism from both sides of the political spectrum over the past six weeks, including for a cartoonish campaign video denounced as homophobic and a list of driver's licences invalidated by his administration.

Despite his extreme rhetoric and aggressive immigration stance, DeSantis has been trailing Trump in the polls, with the former president leading the Republican race by a wide margin. DeSantis’s campaign launch was also marred by technical difficulties, with his audio broadcast on Twitter Spaces plagued by glitches, false starts and dead air.

Additionally, the Florida governor has faced legal battles and investigations, including a 37-count indictment related to his handling and alleged concealing of classified documents after leaving office.

Though DeSantis’ $20 million fundraising haul is a substantial achievement, it is clear that the governor still has a long road ahead of him before he can be considered a viable contender in the 2024 race.