Trump Still Hates DeSantis
In 1966, George Wallace was term-limited out of the Alabama governor’s mansion so, he had his wife, Lurleen, run instead. She won easily, becoming Alabama’s first female governor but effectively making George Wallace the de facto governor until her death from cancer a year later. While Lurleen was officially the governor, George remained heavily involved, serving as her "chief advisor" and effectively maintaining control until her death from cancer in 1968. This wasn’t a secret— both openly acknowledged his role, and it was widely understood as a way to circumvent term limits.
Ron DeSantis wasn’t even born at the time… but he’s trying to use the same technique to cling to power next door in Florida, running his high-profile Mafia wife Casey. She hasn’t declared yet, but she has certainly been going through all the motions that precedes a campaign— especially in terms of cozying up too big donors.
But last Thursday Trump, who detests DeSantis, made a move to upend their plans. He <> endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds<>:
Gary Fineout and Kimberly Leonard reported that 3 GOP operatives “said the governor made calls requesting people hold off on support for the congressmember to donors and potential Donalds boosters— including some who showed up on a social media post in which Trump touted a poll showing Donalds leading among potential GOP candidates” although Casey DeSantis wasn’t included in the polling. “Now DeSantis, who has arguably risen to become the most powerful governor in Florida history, may leave office without an anointed heir dedicated to preserving DeSantis’ efforts in a wide array of legislative and policy battles. During his six years in office, he became a conservative star as he pushed back against Covid-19 protocols and leapt into political fights over gender and racial identity.”
DeSantis on Monday at a Tampa press conference criticized Donalds when asked about the endorsement. He suggested Donalds needed to focus on helping Trump in Congress and that Donalds “just hasn’t been part of any of the victories we have had over the left the last few years.” The governor also predicted that if Casey DeSantis were to run for governor, she would win by a larger margin than he did in 2022.
Some longtime allies of Trump said whoever the president supports is destined to win in a state that is now firmly Republican.
“Trump is going to decide the elections in Florida in 2026,” said state Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota). “He controls the party, he controls the state— and there’s nothing that anybody can do to change that.
… The Trump endorsement now puts the sitting governor and first lady in an awkward spot— although at least one operative said Casey DeSantis may run anyway.
Lobbyists and donors in Tallahassee had already seen Casey DeSantis as a “beautiful, elegant solution” to the question of who would replace Ron DeSantis as governor, said a Florida Republican consultant, also granted anonymity to relay private conversations. Another GOP consultant argued that Casey DeSantis— who had launched several high-profile initiatives including one called Hope Floridao— already had a record rivaling that of other governors.
“She’s one of the rare political spouses,” DeSantis said about his wife recently in an interview on Fox News Channel’s The Ingraham Angle. “Even though I’m probably the most conservative governor in the country, she may even be more conservative than me.”
She also could help preserve and amplify the governor’s changes to state government. One lobbyist, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said they’d seen data showing DeSantis and Trump endorsements tended to cancel each other out in statewide primaries.
“I’m entertained by the lobbyists who have convinced themselves that the Trump endorsement ended the race, or that we haven’t all been 18 months out from a primary looking at a front runner who didn’t ultimately win,” the person said.
The governor, during his tenure, has also remade the state Supreme Court and has been able to overhaul the state’s higher education system by installing allies on university boards and as university presidents. Last week, he elevated his chief of staff to the post of attorney general after appointing Ashley Moody to fill Marco Rubio’s spot in the Senate.
Before James Uthmeier was sworn into his new job on Monday, DeSantis noted the new attorney general could wind up serving 10 years because he would still be eligible to run for two terms. DeSantis will soon also get to pick someone to replace Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, due to the CFO’s run for Congress.
…Trump’s endorsement of Donalds was seen as a reminder of his sway among Republicans.
“It sends an undeniable message that Trump has a long memory, and anybody who dares challenge his endorsed candidates in Florida will find themselves caught in his crosshairs,” said Max Goodman, a southwest Florida Republican consultant.
The question now: How do the DeSantises move forward? One DeSantis supporter highly doubted the governor would suddenly back Donalds especially since he has close to two years left in office.
“There’s no political benefit for the governor to do anything that leads to a lame duck status,” the person said. “To endorse Byron would lead to a lame duck status.
There's no "arguably" about it--DeathSantis is the most powerful FL gov in the 51 years that I have been a resident. Jebby was pretty powerful, but DeathSantis took it to a new level.
I wonder if Casey (a cancer survivor) has considered what happened to the last cancer patient from a SEC state to run for governor after her husband was term-limited.