As Florida Governor Ron DeSantis nears the conclusion of his second term, he is promoting a potential successor for the 2026 gubernatorial race: his wife, Casey DeSantis. This comes alongside a critique of President Donald Trump’s endorsement of U.S. Representative Byron Donalds as a candidate for governor.
During a press conference in Tampa on Monday, DeSantis hailed his wife as a committed conservative who could amplify his achievements and attract even more voters than he did during his decisive reelection in 2022, where he won by nearly 20 points.
“She possesses the courage and dedication to conservative values,” DeSantis expressed regarding Casey. “Everything we’ve accomplished, she could elevate to new heights. We’ve seen significant wins in Florida,” he noted, adding that someone like Byron Donalds has not contributed to these successes.
DeSantis’s remarks followed Trump’s recent support for Donalds, a prominent Florida Republican who has actively backed Trump on the campaign trail. This sets the stage for a potential rivalry between DeSantis and Trump, who defeated him for the Republican presidential nomination last year. DeSantis, facing term limits, may eye a 2028 presidential run and is attempting to mend ties with Trump.
“Byron Donalds would be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida and, should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement,” Trump declared on social media Thursday, urging Donalds to launch his campaign.
This endorsement indirectly undermines DeSantis, particularly following Donalds’s prior public support for Trump over DeSantis in the 2024 Republican primary. DeSantis has straddled the line between MAGA support and traditional conservatism, a balancing act that may intensify as the GOP contemplates its future post-Trump.
The race for governor in Florida, once anticipated to be crowded with Republican candidates, shifted dramatically following Trump’s endorsement of Donalds, despite the fact that Donalds has yet to announce his candidacy. Such endorsements are typical in politics, but Trump’s backing of Donalds appears to be a strategic maneuver to challenge DeSantis.
Since his presidential victory last November, Trump has actively sought to diminish DeSantis’s influence in Florida, surrounding himself with Florida political figures and complicating DeSantis’s efforts to secure support for his future ambitions. The endorsement of Donalds is just the latest instance of Trump’s interference.
Donalds, the only Black Republican in Florida’s congressional delegation, has previously clashed with DeSantis over educational policies, including standards that controversially suggested that some African Americans benefitted from slavery. While DeSantis defended his position against Donalds’ criticisms, Trump advisor Jason Miller hailed Donalds as a “conservative hero.” Donalds has endorsed Trump for the 2024 election, signaling a mutual support system between the two.
