Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suggested that his wife, Casey DeSantis, would be a strong candidate for governor if she chose to run next year. This comment comes after President Trump endorsed Representative Byron Donalds for the 2026 race. While not officially proposing her candidacy, DeSantis indicated that Casey, a former TV anchor and breast cancer survivor, is a serious contender. Recent polls show her popularity among potential Republican candidates. DeSantis criticized Donalds, suggesting he hasn’t contributed to recent Republican victories, while emphasizing Casey’s conservative principles and ability to elevate the administration’s achievements.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated on Monday that his wife, Casey DeSantis, would be a strong contender if she decided to run for governor next year. This assertion comes just days after President Trump endorsed Representative Byron Donalds as his favored Republican candidate for the upcoming 2026 gubernatorial race.
Mr. DeSantis did not explicitly suggest that Ms. DeSantis, a former local TV anchor and a breast cancer survivor who has never pursued public office, join the race. However, his comments indicated that the ambitious couple, as has been speculated for some time, viewed her as a viable option to follow in his footsteps.
“She’s never sought anything,” Mr. DeSantis told reporters in Tampa. “But let me say this: You’re considering someone like her. I won by the largest margin ever for a Republican governor in Florida. She would surpass my accomplishments.”
Last week, Mr. Trump announced his support for Mr. Donalds, a longtime ally, for governor. Mr. Donalds, a Republican from Naples, has yet to declare his candidacy — no major contenders have announced — but he is widely expected to do so.
“Run, Byron, run!” Mr. Trump posted on social media last Thursday, adding that Mr. Donalds would be “a truly great and powerful governor for Florida.” During the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland on Friday, Mr. Donalds advised attendees to “stay tuned” concerning his future plans.
By endorsing or seemingly endorsing two Republicans who have not yet entered the governor’s race, Mr. Trump and Mr. DeSantis have ignited a new proxy battle following their rivalry in the presidential primary. Mr. Trump decisively defeated Mr. DeSantis in that contest, but at 46, Mr. DeSantis could seek the White House again in 2028. Fundraising and media visibility for such a campaign may be more manageable if the term-limited governor, or his wife, held a public office.
To ensure a platform, Mr. DeSantis could have appointed himself to the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Marco Rubio when he took on the role of secretary of state. Instead, Mr. DeSantis opted for Ashley Moody, the Florida attorney general, a known ally. Ms. Moody had previously been viewed as a potential candidate to succeed him.
Last month, Mr. DeSantis mentioned that he would fundraise and allocate resources from his influential political committee — which he utilized previously to defeat ballot measures on abortion rights and marijuana legalization — to support a candidate in the governor’s race. Subsequently, Ms. DeSantis’s name began to circulate among Republican donors at an event in Palm Beach, Fla., as reported by NBC News.
A recent public opinion poll conducted by the Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida revealed that respondents had a more favorable perspective of Ms. DeSantis, 44, than any other possible Republican candidate.
Mr. DeSantis and Mr. Donalds were once quite close: The Florida representative assisted Mr. DeSantis with debate preparation during his initial gubernatorial campaign in 2018. However, their relationship cooled after Mr. Donalds supported Mr. Trump in the presidential primary.
Mr. Donalds, who is Black, later criticized the DeSantis administration for proposing African American history standards that suggested, “slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”
Mr. Donalds was considered one of Mr. Trump’s candidates for running mate last year, and he frequently campaigned in support of Mr. Trump.
On Monday, Mr. DeSantis, a former congressman who often tends to dismiss congressional actions, portrayed Mr. Donalds as ineffective.
“You’ve got a guy like Byron — he just hasn’t played a part in any of the victories we’ve achieved here,” Mr. DeSantis remarked, adding that Mr. Donalds had “been campaigning in other states.”
“And that’s fine,” he continued, “but, alright, then deliver results” in Washington.
Ms. DeSantis, on the contrary, “possesses the intestinal fortitude, the conservative principles,” Mr. DeSantis stated.
Ms. DeSantis has been a prominent surrogate for her husband during his political campaigns. As first lady, she has taken an active role in hurricane recovery initiatives.
“All we’ve achieved, she would be able to elevate it further,” Mr. DeSantis added.