Republican donors apparently simply can’t get sufficient of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. In reality, 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.
In keeping with NBC Information, the concept that Casey might substitute her husband is shortly gaining steam. Casey, a poorly dressed mainstay on her husband’s marketing campaign path, has not but commented on whether or not she’d run.
“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 conversant in her pondering stated.
Ought to Casey enter the 2026 Republican major, which isn’t but a given, it might have vital ripple results throughout the nation and presumably arrange a proxy conflict 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 might leap within the race.
Casey, 44, was born in Ohio and later graduated from the Faculty of Charleston in South Carolina. Earlier than marrying Ron, she was a information anchor; in 2003, she obtained a job at WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Florida, the place she was a weekend and morning information anchor, amongst different issues.
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 Put up, 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 very least two of them are basically extensions of Trump. Casey, in the meantime, might be her personal individual whereas in workplace (a la Hillary Clinton), or this may simply be a roundabout method of protecting Ron within the governor’s mansion after his time is up.
“It is a real possibility,” one other supply conversant in the scenario advised NBC Information, although they famous that they don’t know but whether or not it’s a “probable scenario.”
This isn’t the primary time such discussions revolving round Casey have gained traction. She briefly addressed the prospect in Could, saying that it was a praise to her husband that folks 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 stated on the Conservative Evaluation 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.”
Nevertheless it makes some sense that Casey can be seen as a doable successor. In any case, the breast most cancers survivor and mom of three has spearheaded at the very least 4 main initiatives since her husband was elected, in accordance with the Day by day Beast.
Former GOP Rep. David Jolly of Florida advised Politico that Casey was “every bit as involved in Ron’s rise as Ron is himself.”
A supply advised NBC Information that Ron is seemingly behind his spouse’s operating for governor, regardless of as soon as saying that she had “zero” curiosity within the position.
It seems he’s since modified his thoughts. The supply stated Ron sees Casey’s doable 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 in every of 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 unhealthy between the 2 that “Ron DeSanctimonious” grew to become one of many many nicknames Trump used towards Ron in the course of the major season, which ended for Ron after he had a poor displaying in Iowa.
Transferring ahead, Ron stated 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.
“She’s going to run. I think at this point most see that,” a supply advised NBC Information. “There is a lot to be worked out, but at this point, the rumors are not just that—it’s feeling very real.”
