WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. president Joe Biden will host the Tampa Bay Lightning at the White House Monday. This is to commemorate the National Hockey League’s two consecutive Stanley Cup champions. He and his fellow Democrats are also battling with Florida’s Republican governor.

The Tampa Bay team will make their first ever visit to the White House Monday to commemorate a Stanley Cup Championship win.

Because of COVID-19 concerns, the team could not visit the White House to celebrate their 2021 and 2020 wins. The 2004 win of the Lightning, their first ever Stanley Cup victory, was not recognized by George W. Bush due to a labor dispute with the NHL.

Biden is a huge hockey fan and will be attending Monday’s event. This gives him the opportunity to reach Floridians while Ron DeSantis (the Republican governor) leads an attack against federal education oversight.

DeSantis was last week challenged by Walt in an attempt to prove his conservatism ahead of the possible 2024 Republican presidential nominee run. Disney Co., after the company protested against a new law in New York that restricts discussion of LGBTQ subjects at schools.

Florida was one the five states that Donald Trump won more 2020 votes in than 2016 because it had a higher percentage of former presidents.

Biden uses sports frequently to communicate with Americans. The Republican party has a much more divided message. Biden is an avid sports fan. He has hosted professional football, basketball, baseball and hockey teams at The White House.

Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2021, 2020, and 2021 making them the only back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions in quarter century.