TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As Florida Governor Ron DeSantis nears the end of his second term, he is hinting at a surprising potential successor—his wife, Casey DeSantis. While speaking to reporters in Tampa on Monday, DeSantis praised the state’s First Lady as a strong conservative who could continue his policies and even expand on them.
“She has the strength and dedication to conservative values,” DeSantis said. “Anything we’ve achieved, she could take to the next level.”
DeSantis’ remarks come shortly after former President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Representative Byron Donalds, a Republican from Florida, as his preferred candidate for the 2026 governor’s race. Donalds has been a vocal supporter of Trump, often appearing on conservative news networks to back the former president.
DeSantis appeared to downplay Donalds’ qualifications, suggesting that he had not played a role in the major political victories achieved in Florida in recent years.
“We’ve had big wins here in Florida,” DeSantis said. “Byron hasn’t been involved in the battles we’ve fought and won against the left.”
The situation has created potential political tension between DeSantis and Trump. Trump decisively defeated DeSantis in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, but DeSantis may consider another White House run in 2028. In recent months, he has been working to mend his relationship with Trump and his supporters.
Trump made his endorsement of Donalds clear in a social media post last Thursday.
“Byron Donalds would be a truly great and powerful governor for Florida,” Trump wrote. “If he decides to run, he has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, BYRON, RUN!”
Donalds has not yet confirmed whether he will run, but when asked about it at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) last week, he told the audience to “stay tuned.”
Some Trump allies have also criticized DeSantis for suggesting his wife as his political successor. Former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz, who has been a close Trump supporter, posted on X (formerly Twitter), expressing his disappointment.
“Man, it hurts me to see this,” Gaetz wrote. “Governor DeSantis, don’t you remember when Byron, you, and I worked together to get you elected in 2018? We were literally your debate prep team.”
With the 2026 Florida governor’s race still years away, speculation continues to grow about who will enter the race and whether Casey DeSantis will make a historic run for office.
