“While we understand communication can sometimes be difficult, we nevertheless think that communication is necessary,” Garvey continued, adding that he was “disappointed” when he didn’t get an apology for the slight.
A DeSantis campaign rep did not return messages. The campaign moved the fundraiser to a more private venue after Democratic groups planned to protest the event, according to a person familiar with the event.
The original venue is part of first-term Republican Rep. Mike Lawler’s 17th Congressional district, which is a key target for Democrats and their plan to retake the House in 2024.
Lawler, like most of the Republican congressional delegation from New York, has not said who he’ll back to challenge President Joe Biden. A spokesperson for the congressman did not comment.
This week’s Siena Poll found 61 percent of New York Republicans would vote for Donald Trump if the primary happened now. If Trump wasn’t the nominee, DeSantis would the next favorite pick by a wide margin.
“Some people really like him,” a New York Republican official said. “‘He’s Trump-ish without the baggage,’ is the general feel.”
That official said he wouldn’t expect the state’s congressional Republicans to start endorsing until at least this fall. “It’s a tough game,” he said. “You want to be in early, but you don’t want to be wrong.”
DeSantis is also scheduled to collect donations at a Yale Club event in Manhattan on Thursday.
The luncheon, another $6,600-a-plate affair, is hosted by some GOP throwbacks like William Heyman — an executive at Travelers who was nominated to a New York Fed advisory committee by then-President George W. Bush — and Buffalo real estate executive Nick Sinatra, who was a political director at the Bush White House.
A version of this initially appeared in the June 29 edition of New York Playbook.