Timing is everything in politics.
Ron DeSantis found this out the hard way in the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary.
But now, Casey DeSantis just heard six words that upended her plans to run for Governor.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was one of the most popular Republicans in the country after the 2022 Midterm elections.
Even though the expected red wave fizzled out across the country, DeSantis led the GOP to a massive victory in 2022 that saw Republicans gain a supermajority in the state legislature.
DeSantis catapulted in the polls and entered the GOP Primary in May of 2023 as the one candidate most likely to topple Donald Trump.
But timing is everything in politics.
“His big mainstream media debut on CNN Tuesday was overshadowed by Trump’s announcement that he could soon be indicted for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection,” Vox reported. “The timing of the CNN interview was an unforeseen misfortune, much like the technical problems that plagued DeSantis’s campaign announcement on Twitter Spaces.”
Despite entering the race with the momentum in his corner, the timing of the Trump indictments sucked the wind right out of DeSantis’ sails.
He eventually dropped out of the race after the Iowa Caucus and endorsed Donald Trump.
Many GOP strategists believe DeSantis should have waited to run for President and instead spent his time campaigning for Donald Trump.
But now his wife, Casey DeSantis is facing a similar situation.
Ron DeSantis is term limited in 2026.
His wife, Casey DeSantis, is making all the moves that indicate she is planning a run for Governor.
But the timing is difficult after Donald Trump endorsed Congressman Byron Donalds for Governor last Thursday in a post on social media.
“I am hearing that Highly Respected Congressman Byron Donalds is considering running for Governor of Florida, a State that I love, and WON BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024,” Trump wrote. “Should he decide to run, [Donalds] will have my Complete and Total Endorsement.”
“RUN, BYRON, RUN!” he added.
On Monday, Ron DeSantis took a swipe at Donalds during an interview with reporters.
“The reality is we’ve achieved victories in Florida,” he said. “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,” DeSantis continued. “He’s just not been a part of it.”
“He’s been in other states campaigning doing that, and that’s fine, but OK, then deliver results up there,” DeSantis added.
He also sang his wife’s praises.
“[Casey is] somebody that has, I think, the intestinal fortitude and the dedication to conservative principles,” DeSantis told reporters on Monday. “Anything we’ve accomplished, she’d be able to take to the next level.”
However, Donalds appeared for an interview on Tuesday with Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity, where he discussed the 2026 Governor’s race.
“Sean, we have a wonderful state,” Donalds began. “I got to Florida when I was 17 years old, off of a Greyhound bus with just a trunk full of clothes,” he continued. “And over the rest of my time in Florida, I built a family, I built a career, I was able to serve four years in a state legislature, four years in Congress.”
Donalds praised Governor Ron DeSantis for doing a “tremendous job for our state.”
“But now the job is to keep the best state in the country as the best state in the country,” he said. “And so that’s going to be the mission at hand.”
Donalds then said six words that upended Casey DeSantis’ plans for Governor.
“I’m excited to announce my candidacy,” he declared.
Byron Donalds is running for Governor and will have the backing of the entire Trump machine.
Casey DeSantis would certainly make a good Governor.
But just like with her husband in the GOP Presidential Primary, the timing will make success difficult for Casey DeSantis.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
