Republican donors apparently simply can’t get sufficient of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The truth is, they’re so enamored with the socially awkward racist that they need his reign of terror to proceed previous his time period restrict. And the way do they plan to try this? By having his spouse, Casey DeSantis, run to succeed him.
“I would say this: I have heard donors have been urging her to run and that while it’s not something she has wanted to do, they are causing her to at least stop and listen,” a supply aware of her considering mentioned.
Ought to Casey enter the 2026 Republican major, which isn’t but a given, it will have vital ripple results throughout the nation and probably arrange a proxy battle between Ron and his frenemy President Donald Trump.
There’s the added wrinkle that Casey isn’t the one Republican noodling with operating for Florida’s subsequent governor. Florida’s Rep. Byron Donalds and disgraced former Rep. Matt Gaetz are additionally toying with taking a shot on the gubernatorial seat, and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson may soar within the race.
Casey DeSantis
In 2010, she left for a brief stint with the PGA Tour broadcast earlier than becoming a member of the Jacksonville TV program “First Coast Living.” In keeping with the Washington Submit, she left TV altogether in 2018 to assist her husband run for governor—the place he squeaked out a win over his Democratic competitor.
The truth that donors are reportedly pushing Casey to run suggests they aren’t too jazzed about Donalds, Gaetz, or Simpson. And that is sensible, contemplating at the least two of them are basically extensions of Trump. Casey, in the meantime, may very well be her personal individual whereas in workplace (a la Hillary Clinton), or this may simply be a roundabout method of maintaining Ron within the governor’s mansion after his time is up.
This isn’t the primary time such discussions revolving round Casey have gained traction. She briefly addressed the prospect in Might, saying that it was a praise to her husband that individuals needed her to run for workplace.
“I will tell you this: When people talk about me running for governor, I think it speaks highly about the governor himself. “I think when people see me, it is because they are so happy about everything that this governor has done for the state of Florida,” she mentioned on the Conservative Assessment podcast. “When people start talking about ‘Oh, you know, you should run,’ that’s because Gov. DeSantis is a rock star, and that’s because people are so proud of everything that he’s done for this state.”However it makes some sense that Casey could be seen as a attainable successor. In any case, the breast most cancers survivor and mom of three has spearheaded at the least 4 main initiatives since her husband was elected, in line with the Each day Beast.
Former GOP Rep. David Jolly of Florida instructed Politico that Casey was “every bit as involved in Ron’s rise as Ron is himself.”
It seems he’s since modified his thoughts. The supply mentioned Ron sees Casey’s attainable entrance into the race “as his best opportunity to set future leaderships for the state and prevent a Simpson or Donalds governorship.”
That’s most likely as a result of Ron doesn’t need one among Trump’s cronies to carry his seat, particularly given their previous. Ron challenged Trump final 12 months for the Republican presidential nomination, at which he failed miserably after being savaged by Trump’s marketing campaign. On the time, it was clear that Trump took credit score for Ron’s 2018 gubernatorial win and noticed his run for president as a betrayal.
It obtained so dangerous between the 2 that “Ron DeSanctimonious” turned one of many many nicknames Trump used towards Ron through the major season, which ended for Ron after he had a poor exhibiting in Iowa.
Transferring ahead, Ron mentioned he plans to have a hands-on position within the 2026 governor’s race, which has left some political onlookers questioning who he may assist—or if he may throw his weight behind his spouse.
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