Ron and Casey DeSantis dazzle Reno Rodeo crowd with three kids in tow

Ron DeSantis charmed a Nevada rodeo crowd alongside his all-American family during a presidential campaign stop on Friday evening.

The Florida governor, his wife Casey DeSantis and their three children Madison, 6, Mason, 5, and Mamie, 3, were hosted by one of the sponsors of the Reno Rodeo in a box with premium views of the arena, where a slew of attendees could walk by and shake his hand or take a selfie. 

‘They’re in the right place,’ a rodeo-goer told DailyMail.com when asked how he felt about the 2024 GOP presidential candidate attending.

Before bringing their kids to the rodeo, Ron and Casey stopped to drink beers with veterans in Reno at VFW Post 9211, also known as ‘The Bunker’.

The Friday festivities come the day before Florida Gov. DeSantis will be the featured guest at the 8th Annual Morning in Nevada PAC’s Basque Fry in Gardnerville, Nevada – just under an hour outside of Reno.

Ron DeSantis charmed a Nevada rodeo crowd alongside his all-American family Friday evening

Spotted alongside DeSantis at the rodeo was former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt, a longtime Donald Trump ally who has defected to support DeSantis in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

Laxalt and DeSantis roomed together while in naval officer training, and they have remained close friends through the years. 

Both men were officers in the Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps, and they served in Iraq.

Laxalt chaired Trump’s 2020 campaign in Nevada, but this time around he is backing DeSantis, and heads up the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down. 

The ten-day Reno Rodeo is a coveted annual event in western Nevada with attendees pulling out their best boots, largest cowboy hats, pressed jeans and flashiest belt buckles to watch the competitions, which includes bareback riding and barrel racing, as well as bull and Bronc riding.

Past rodeo president Scott Patterson confirmed that DeSantis is the first-ever presidential candidate to visit the Reno Rodeo. 

Event organizers told DailyMail.com that DeSantis wanted to stay throughout the duration of the festivities Friday evening because his kids are big fans of bull riding, which is the finale event.

The ten-day Reno Rodeo is a well-loved annual event in western Nevada

Spotted alongside DeSantis at the rodeo was former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt (right), a former Donald Trump ally who defected to support DeSantis, his longtime friend

Laxalt (right) chaired Trump’s 2020 campaign in Nevada, but this time around he is backing DeSantis, and heads up the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, wife Casey and children Madison, Mamie and Mason attend Patriot Night at the Ren Rodeo in Nevada on Friday

Many in the crowd eagerly anticipated DeSantis’ arrival, while others were unaware of his attendance and just enjoying the annual competition.

The general manager of a local Reno and Tahoe-based business who was attending the rodeo on Friday evening said that he plans to change his registration from independent to Republican so he can vote for DeSantis in the primary election.

Richard Harrison, 45, told DailyMail.com that he voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 election, but said he’s ‘too crazy,’ so he switched his vote to Joe Biden in 2020. 

But the Nevada voter said he fears that Biden is ‘too old’ to continue being president, and now backs DeSantis.

At the rodeo, DeSantis shook hands as he walked out to the bleachers after privately meeting with the event’s sponsors.

Many prospective voters approached DeSantis to take pictures as he settled into the box with the Reno Rodeo owner.

Though far from the Sunshine State, DeSantis looked to be right at home, donning the black pair of boots he is often seen wearing at campaign events with jeans, along with a white quarter zip on top of a light blue and plaid button down.

Casey, who is quickly becoming a fashion icon and drawing comparisons to former First Ladies Jackie Kennedy and Nancy Reagan, wore a cobalt blue zip-up over a white t-shirt and jeans.

Earlier in the day, DeSantis stopped to drink beers with veterans in Reno at VFW Post 9211, also known as ‘The Bunker’

Ron, Casey, and Adam Laxalt are seen serving drinks behind the bar at the VFW post

The three kids were in matching ‘RD24’ navy blue shirts promoting their father’s 2024 bid for the Republican presidential nomination. The family of five all wore cowboy boots and jeans.

DeSantis will join Laxalt and other conservatives and Nevada leaders at the Basque Fry on Saturday morning. 

Other attendees will include Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo; pro-Second Amendment media personality Dana Loesch; and Steve Cortes, the national spokesperson of the biggest PAC backing DeSantis’ presidential run, Never Back Down.

Nevada’s presidential primary is scheduled for February 6, making it among the earliest states on the Republican schedule, as well as the newly revamped Democratic primary schedule.