TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Gov. Ron DeSantis and first woman Casey DeSantis had a message for donors and different vital Republican backers over the previous few weeks: Don’t throw your help to Rep. Byron Donalds, as a result of Casey DeSantis was significantly contemplating leaping into the 2026 race for governor.
That message was upended final Thursday evening with a single social media post by President Donald Trump emphatically endorsing Donalds. And Trump’s determination could have additionally derailed an effort to protect Gov. DeSantis’ conservative legacy forward of one other potential presidential run.
Three Republican operatives and consultants, who had been granted anonymity to reveal particulars of the trouble to advertise Casey DeSantis, stated the governor made calls requesting folks maintain off on help for the congressmember to donors and potential Donalds boosters — together with some who confirmed up on a social media submit by which Trump touted a ballot displaying Donalds main amongst potential GOP candidates. (That ballot didn’t embody Casey DeSantis.)
Two of the Republicans stated that each the governor and the primary woman had been planning on assembly with Trump to debate the governor’s race throughout a deliberate go to late final week to Washington with different governors. It isn’t clear whether or not the proposed assembly, which was first reported by conservative news website The Floridian, came about, although the 2 did attend Saturday’s dinner with governors on the White Home.
Now DeSantis, who has arguably risen to turn out to be probably the most highly effective governor in Florida historical past, could go away workplace with out an anointed inheritor devoted to preserving DeSantis’ efforts in a big selection of legislative and coverage battles. Throughout his six years in workplace, he grew to become a conservative star as he pushed again towards Covid-19 protocols and leapt into political fights over gender and racial identification.
However DeSantis on Monday at a Tampa press convention criticized Donalds when requested concerning the endorsement. He prompt Donalds wanted to give attention to serving to Trump in Congress and that Donalds “simply hasn’t been a part of any of the victories we now have had over the left the previous few years.” The governor additionally predicted that if Casey DeSantis had been to run for governor, she would win by a bigger margin than he did in 2022.
Some longtime allies of Trump stated whoever the president helps is destined to win in a state that’s now firmly Republican.
“Trump goes to determine the elections in Florida in 2026,” stated state Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota). “He controls the occasion, he controls the state — and there’s nothing that anyone can do to alter that.”
Private harm lawyer Dan Newlin, a donor who Trump named as ambassador to Colombia, described Donalds as somebody who’d proven “unwavering dedication” to the president’s election and predicted a “vital victory.” He didn’t get calls from DeSantis concerning the 2026 race, however referred to as them a “vital political mistake.”
One of many three GOP operatives stated this about Donalds: “I believe he’s the nominee till somebody comes up with a solution to dethrone him.”
Donalds, who as soon as was near DeSantis, has not formally entered the race however seems probably to take action very quickly. Throughout a Friday afternoon look on the Conservative Political Motion Convention, Donalds lauded each Gov. DeSantis and former Gov. Rick Scott, including that “Florida isn’t going to cease main.” He then stated to “keep tuned” about his personal future plans.
The Trump endorsement now places the sitting governor and first woman in a clumsy spot — though at the very least one operative stated Casey DeSantis could run anyway.
Lobbyists and donors in Tallahassee had already seen Casey DeSantis as a “stunning, elegant resolution” to the query of who would substitute Ron DeSantis as governor, stated a Florida Republican marketing consultant, additionally granted anonymity to relay personal conversations. One other GOP marketing consultant argued that Casey DeSantis — who had launched a number of high-profile initiatives together with one referred to as Hope Florida — already had a document rivaling that of different governors.
“She’s one of many uncommon political spouses,” DeSantis stated about his spouse lately in an interview on Fox Information Channel’s “The Ingraham Angle.” “Despite the fact that I’m in all probability probably the most conservative governor within the nation, she could even be extra conservative than me.”
She additionally may assist protect and amplify the governor’s adjustments to state authorities. One lobbyist, granted anonymity to talk candidly, stated they’d seen information displaying DeSantis and Trump endorsements tended to cancel one another out in statewide primaries.
“I’m entertained by the lobbyists who’ve satisfied themselves that the Trump endorsement ended the race, or that we haven’t all been 18 months out from a major a entrance runner who didn’t finally win,” the particular person stated.
The governor, throughout his tenure, has additionally remade the state Supreme Courtroom and has been in a position to overhaul the state’s greater training system by putting in allies on college boards and as college presidents. Final week, he elevated his chief of staff to the post of attorney general after appointing Ashley Moody to fill Marco Rubio’s spot within the Senate.
Earlier than James Uthmeier was sworn into his new job on Monday, DeSantis famous the brand new legal professional common may wind up serving 10 years as a result of he would nonetheless be eligible to run for 2 phrases. DeSantis will quickly additionally get to select somebody to switch Chief Monetary Officer Jimmy Patronis, as a result of CFO’s run for Congress.
At one level, Moody was seen as a possible inheritor obvious, however DeSantis instead tapped her for the U.S. Senate after Rubio was chosen to be Trump’s secretary of State. One DeSantis supporter contended the governor “had sacrificed a possible torch hand-off for the great of the nation.”
One other Republican operative prompt DeSantis can’t have it each methods. The governor has consistently criticized the dearth of time period limits in Congress.
“That is time period limits — essentially, you imagine in closing the web page,” the operative stated. “How can he wish to have a legacy if he believes in time period limits?”
The brief listing of potential heirs, nonetheless, additionally factors to the strained relationship DeSantis has had with different Republicans, together with Trump. DeSantis himself was helped into the governor’s mansion with a well timed endorsement from Trump again in 2018. However the governor determined to problem Trump for the GOP presidential nomination, solely to return in a distant second throughout the Iowa caucuses. A few of these engaged on Trump’s marketing campaign — together with Susie Wiles, the present White Home chief of employees — had their very own falling out with DeSantis.
Donalds was as soon as shut sufficient to DeSantis that he spoke forward of him on stage throughout the governor’s reelection victory occasion. However the relationship cooled after the congressman endorsed Trump over DeSantis for president and after Donalds criticized Florida’s revamped education standards.
Trump’s endorsement of Donalds was seen as a reminder of his sway amongst Republicans.
“It sends an simple message that Trump has a protracted reminiscence, and anyone who dares problem his endorsed candidates in Florida will discover themselves caught in his crosshairs,” stated Max Goodman, a southwest Florida Republican marketing consultant.
The query now: How do the DeSantises transfer ahead? One DeSantis supporter extremely doubted the governor would out of the blue again Donalds particularly since he has shut to 2 years left in workplace.
“There’s no political profit for the governor to do something that results in a lame duck standing,” the particular person stated. “To endorse Byron would result in a lame duck standing.
