In early 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Zalupski to the University of Florida Board of Trustees. That summer, Dream Finders donated $250,000 to the super PAC for DeSantis’ presidential bid, and Zalupski donated the maximum amount of $6,600 to DeSantis’ campaign.

The sale of the Rays seems to be coming to fruition. A report from Evan Drellich and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic says that a sale has been agreed to in principle which would see the club be sold from current owner Stuart Sternberg to a group led by Patrick Zalupski.