Feb 25, 2025 Story by: Editor
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Over the past few weeks, Gov. Ron DeSantis and first lady Casey DeSantis have conveyed a clear message to donors and key Republican supporters: Hold off on backing Rep. Byron Donalds, as Casey DeSantis was seriously considering entering the 2026 gubernatorial race.
However, that plan was disrupted last Thursday night when President Donald Trump made a decisive social media post endorsing Donalds. Trump’s move could also complicate efforts to sustain Gov. DeSantis’ conservative agenda in preparation for a potential future presidential bid.
According to three Republican strategists and consultants, who were granted anonymity to discuss the matter, Gov. DeSantis personally reached out to donors and potential Donald’s supporters, asking them to delay their endorsements. This included some individuals mentioned in a social media post where Trump highlighted a poll showing Donalds leading among prospective GOP candidates—though Casey DeSantis was not included in that poll.
Two of the strategists indicated that both the governor and first lady intended to meet with Trump to discuss the governor’s race during a visit to Washington last week with other governors. While it remains unclear if the meeting took place, as initially reported by conservative outlet The Floridian, both attended a White House dinner for governors on Saturday.
Now, DeSantis—arguably one of the most influential governors in Florida’s history—faces the possibility of leaving office without a chosen successor committed to advancing his conservative legislative and policy initiatives. Over his six years in office, he gained national recognition for opposing Covid-19 protocols and engaging in cultural battles related to gender and racial identity.
On Monday, during a press conference in Tampa, DeSantis openly criticized Donalds when asked about Trump’s endorsement. He argued that Donalds should concentrate on aiding Trump in Congress, stating that Donalds “just hasn’t been part of any of the victories we have had over the left the last few years.” The governor also asserted that if Casey DeSantis were to run, she would win by a greater margin than he did in 2022.
Trump’s endorsement holds significant weight in Florida politics, with some allies asserting that his support is decisive.
“Trump is going to decide the elections in Florida in 2026,” said state Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota). “He controls the party, he controls the state — and there’s nothing that anybody can do to change that.”
Dan Newlin, a personal injury lawyer and Trump donor who was appointed as ambassador to Colombia, described Donalds as someone who had demonstrated “unwavering dedication” to Trump’s campaign, predicting a “significant victory.” While Newlin did not receive any calls from DeSantis regarding the 2026 race, he viewed such efforts as a “significant political mistake.”
A Republican strategist added, “I think he’s the nominee until someone comes up with a way to dethrone him.”
Donalds, who was once a close ally of DeSantis, has not yet officially declared his candidacy but is expected to do so soon. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday, Donalds praised both Gov. DeSantis and former Gov. Rick Scott, affirming that “Florida is not going to stop leading.” He then teased an upcoming announcement by saying, “stay tuned” about his future plans.
Trump’s endorsement now places both the governor and first lady in a difficult position—though some insiders believe Casey DeSantis may still enter the race.
Lobbyists and donors in Tallahassee had already seen Casey DeSantis as an ideal successor to her husband, according to a Florida Republican consultant who was granted anonymity to discuss private conversations. Another GOP consultant noted that Casey DeSantis, who spearheaded several initiatives, including Hope Florida, had already built a track record comparable to that of other governors.
“She’s one of the rare political spouses,” DeSantis said in a recent interview on Fox News Channel’s “The Ingraham Angle.” “Even though I’m probably the most conservative governor in the country, she may even be more conservative than me.”
Her candidacy could ensure continuity in DeSantis’ political agenda. One lobbyist, speaking anonymously, pointed out that data suggested endorsements from DeSantis and Trump tend to neutralize each other in statewide primaries.
“I’m entertained by the lobbyists who have convinced themselves that the Trump endorsement ended the race, or that we haven’t all been 18 months out from a primary looking at a front runner who didn’t ultimately win,” the person remarked.
During his tenure, DeSantis reshaped Florida’s state Supreme Court and revamped the state’s higher education system by appointing allies to university boards and leadership positions. Last week, he elevated his chief of staff to the role of attorney general after appointing Ashley Moody to Marco Rubio’s vacated Senate seat.
Before James Uthmeier was sworn in as attorney general on Monday, DeSantis noted that Uthmeier could serve for a decade since he would still be eligible to run for two full terms. Additionally, DeSantis will soon appoint a new Chief Financial Officer to replace Jimmy Patronis, who is running for Congress.
At one point, Moody was viewed as a possible successor to DeSantis, but he chose to send her to the Senate after Rubio was appointed as Secretary of State under Trump. One supporter of DeSantis suggested the governor “had sacrificed a potential torch hand-off for the good of the country.”
Another Republican strategist argued that DeSantis’ approach contradicts his stance on term limits.
“This is term limits — fundamentally, you believe in closing the page,” the strategist said. “How can he want to have a legacy if he believes in term limits?”
The lack of a clear successor also reflects DeSantis’ fraught relationship with other Republicans, including Trump. DeSantis initially benefited from Trump’s endorsement during his 2018 gubernatorial race. However, after challenging Trump for the GOP presidential nomination and finishing a distant second in the Iowa caucuses, their relationship soured. Several key figures in Trump’s camp, including his current White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, previously had a falling out with DeSantis.
Donalds, who once shared a strong rapport with DeSantis, introduced him on stage during the governor’s 2022 reelection victory celebration. But their relationship cooled after Donalds backed Trump over DeSantis for president and criticized changes to Florida’s education standards.
Trump’s endorsement of Donalds signals his continued influence in GOP politics.
“It sends an undeniable message that Trump has a long memory, and anybody who dares challenge his endorsed candidates in Florida will find themselves caught in his crosshairs,” said Max Goodman, a Republican consultant from southwest Florida.
The pressing question now is how the DeSantises will respond. One DeSantis supporter doubted that the governor would endorse Donalds, particularly given that he still has nearly two years left in office.
“There’s no political benefit for the governor to do anything that leads to a lame duck status,” the person said. “To endorse Byron would lead to a lame duck status.” Source: Politico
