Posted on 02/24/2025 10:01:54 AM PST by Miami Rebel
Gov. Ron DeSantis weighed in on the 2026 governor's race on Monday by lashing out at Donald Trump's candidate, Byron Donalds, for failing to help defeat "the left" in Florida while suggesting his wife, Casey DeSantis, would be the stronger pick in the 2026 race.
Wading into the looming gubernatorial race for the first time since President Trump endorsed Congressman Donalds for the position on Friday, DeSantis blasted the Representative for campaigning in other states and not bringing in results. He then brought up the "wonderful First Lady" who would "do better" than DeSantis had in a Republican primary.
This is the first time DeSantis hasn't brushed off rumors that his wife, a former reporter, could run for Florida's chief executive position.
"You got a guy like Byron, he just hasn't been a part of any of the victories that we've had here over the left over these last years. He's just not been a part of it," DeSantis said at a Monday press conference in Tampa.
"He’s been in other states campaigning, and that's fine, but okay, well then deliver results up there!" He continued, claiming Congress hasn't "done very much" to implement Trump's agenda. DeSantis later pivoted to Casey DeSantis, who led in a prospective Republican primary poll conducted days before Trump threw his weight behind Donalds.
"I won by the biggest margin that any Republican's ever won a governor's race here in Florida—she would do better than me, there's no question about that," DeSantis said, splitting heavily from past comments claiming the governorship is "not something she's seeking out" and has "zero" interest in.
DeSantis and Donalds, once allies, had a falling out in 2023 over new teaching standards requiring middle school students to learn that enslaved people "developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit," Politico reported. Donalds, Florida's sole Black Republican Congressman, called the lessons "wrong" and asked that they "be adjusted."
This only resulted in DeSantis' spokespeople, known for their aggressive defense of the governor on social media, accusing Donalds of not being a real conservative.
DeSantis also revealed that he will wait until after the legislative session to appoint a new Chief Financial Officer, which will be empty on March 31, and Lieutenant Governor, an already-vacated seat.
Other rumored Republican candidates for governor include Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and former Rep. Matt Gaetz. Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo is a likely contender on the Democrat side.
DeSantis’ wife is going to run against him? Yikes.
I still don’t trust DeSantis I think he was funded by the Lincoln Project. DeSantis and Newsom seem slimey.
Watch, I bet real fast she will show she’s not very likable. Just a hunch.
CC
Will Desantis continue to play nice with Trump because of this?
Are you serious????
Destantis was the voice of sanity during the insanity of covid lock downs. He is an outstanding Conservative governor. The hate for him on FR is absurd.
“I think he was funded by the Lincoln Project. DeSantis and Newsom seem slimey.”
As a lifetime Florida native and with all due respect, you couldn’t be more wrong about Governor DeSantis.
SHE MUST BE A NUT! BYRON IS FABULOUS!!
“I still don’t trust DeSantis I think he was funded by the Lincoln Project. DeSantis and Newsom seem slimey.”
ROTFLMAO!
“The hate for him on FR is absurd”
Stick around, your about to see more of it.
So DeSantis' will be termed out in 2026 and he wants his wife to run to replace him as governor? Back to back DeSantises?
Not even the Clintons were that ambitious.
I am a Trump supporter, and I think that DeSantis could be a great president at a different time. The first month of Trump shows me that we need someone to clear out the termites before we can restore the damaged frame. Trump is making it impossible for any future MAGA president (Vance, DeSantis, Rubio, etc.) to be called “Hitler”.
First, you make a necessary disruption (Trump), then you have someone some in and methodically CONSOLIDATE the gains (the other guys I listed), rather than someone who would undo it (anyone named Bush, Nikki Haley, etc.).
I love DeSantis but please no wife. A former reporter? Ugh.
Why do it, and what does she bring to the race?
Experience? A former Talking Head, on Air Talent?
Small kids at home?
Sorry folks, seems to be a nice enough lady, but there is no there there. Other than they won’t have to move.
Donalds has fire in the belly, great image and reach, and represents the young, fighting spirit that the MAGA movement promises.
A Politician’s no-experience spouse assuming a claim on the office is just too Swampy.
Florida Man is the same he’s always been.
Maybe The Bulwark is hiring?
I have been praying for Byron Donalds and his future for awhile. And while I think Ashley Moody is great, I had a strong sense DeSantis wouldn’t want to promote Donalds for Rubio’s senate seat.
Being both black & MAGA comes with just that much extra battle from all sides. I’m sure he knows it.
Byron Donalds is my Congressman and no one could ask for better.
I know many of you, some Florida freepers included, really like DeSantiss. But I’m telling you the man is not his own person. He is controlled by his wife and their connections to the never Trump wing of the party.
Trump was NEVER supposed to win that primary let alone another Presidency. But Thank God he did! I will be supporting Congressman Byron Donalds.
???
Desantis initiated lockdowns and even set up unconstitutional checkpoints on I-10 and I-95 into Florida. He restricted travel, and ordered self-quarantine for two weeks with the threat of 60 days in jail if people didn't obey. He only later pretended he hadn't done any of that.
https://wsvn.com/news/local/florida/gov-desantis-orders-checkpoints-on-i-10-and-i-95-to-screen-travelers/
At this point, I’ll be supporting Byron for Governor...
I live in Florida. I don’t hate him. I just see the true person behind the mask. The Never Trump wing of the GOP funded his run for President. The money sadly dictates control. If he had beaten Trump he would have been controlled opposition.
You are free to believe anything you wish about the guy. But the so called hate here on FR is just people fed up with establishment GOP twisting the knife. And I’m one of them.
Desantis said he wouldn't run against Trump and then did. He also changed the law in Florida so that he could use his gubernatorial reelection funds to run for President, which up until he changed the law for himself, was illegal. There were plenty of people who donated to his gubernatorial campaign that came forward and said they never would have donated to his campaign if he was going to use their money to run against Trump.
Desantis is a Deep Stater whose entire career has been on the taxpayer dime.
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