DeSantis won his US House seat in the Jacksonville area in considerable part because he was a former Navy officer running in a city with a large Navy base. In addition, DeSantis's wife Casey had been a popular local TV reporter and news anchor and was an energetic and effective campaigners with him.
DeSantis won the GOP nomination for Governor of Florida in 2018 because he was endorsed by Trump, but barely won though against a relatively weak Democratic opponent. With Florida's strong GOP organization and the advantage of incumbency, DeSantis easily won reelection in 2022.
As in Congress, as Governor, DeSantis developed a reputation for having an awkward manner and being hard to get to through staff. DeSantis also tends to churn though advisers, leaving some of them feeling ill-used and hostile. One of Trump's key current advisers, Susanne Wiles, was previously one of DeSantis's key advisers until she had a falling out with him.
I remember the 2018 gubernatorial race. However weak Gillum was, he was on the way to being the first black governor of the state of Florida. Remember, this state voted for Obama’s melanin count twice. It was a huge hurdle for any white candidate to overcome. He was also up against the corrupt election officials in the Broward and West Palm Beach counties at that time.
Happily, there were enough votes to overcome any shenanigans that time, but only just enough. The DNC was perhaps a little too reliant on the historical racial aspect, since it worked so well for Obama.
I suppose if it makes some feel better to read such rumors then so be it. However, unnamed sources are hardly reliable, and I’ve seen the same videos used to say something negative about him prove the opposite of what was claimed.
DeSantis’ appeal is the perception that he’s “Trumpism without the Trump”.
Thanks! I didn’t know this.
As in Congress, as Governor, DeSantis developed a reputation for having an awkward manner and being hard to get to through staff. DeSantis also tends to churn though advisers, leaving some of them feeling ill-used and hostile. One of Trump's key current advisers, Susanne Wiles, was previously one of DeSantis's key advisers until she had a falling out with him.
I didn’t know this, either.
Thanks so much for summarizing that for me.