Peter Schorsch
Gov. Ron DeSantis ought to appoint himself to the U.S. Senate, and the reason has a little something to do with a former foe: ex-Republican Gov.-turned independent U.S. Senate candidate-turned Democratic U.S. Rep.-turned failed Democratic candidate for Governor Charlie Crist.
If only Crist owned Doc Brown’s DeLorean.
Of course, the stainless steel sports car featuring gull wing doors was a souped-up DeLorean in which Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd, sent Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly traveling through time in the “Back to the Future” trilogy.
Whereas Marty had to travel back to the moment when his would-be parents became lovers in order to save the McFly family, there is little doubt in my mind that Crist would drive that DeLorean straight to the Whataburger two blocks from the Governor’s Mansion. During a late-night meeting at the fast-food joint in 2009, George LeMieux persuaded Crist’s then-Chief of Staff Erik Eikenberg that LeMieux deserved an interview to be considered for the U.S. Senate post to which he was ultimately appointed.
The Senate seat was a highly coveted job during Crist’s tenure, prompted by Mel Martinez’s announcement in late 2008 that he would not seek a second term. That, in turn, sparked Crist and eventual winner Marco Rubio to run for the seat. But when Martinez resigned in 2009, it was up to Crist to pick the person who would serve the final 16 months of the term. It was a rare opportunity for him to pick someone who would not challenge him in the 2010 election. In hindsight, Crist flubbed it.
Instead of agreeing to consider LeMieux, Crist should have done donut wheels in the parking lot until Eikenberg, LeMieux and everyone else knew the only candidate he was considering for the seat was himself.
Such a decision would have changed the course of Florida politics, if not the nation’s, with a butterfly effect that would have impacted all of the big names currently leading Republican machinations, such as DeSantis and Rubio.
Unfortunately for Crist, the only place you’ll see that time-traveling DeLorean is Broadway, where the story of the McFly clan is now a popular musical.
As anyone who is reading this column knows, Crist would lose the Senate seat to Rubio, launching a rightward shift in the Sunshine State that has made Florida the center of Donald Trump’s MAGA brand of politics.
Of course, history repeats itself and now DeSantis finds himself in a similar situation, with the same exact Senate seat. Rubio is heading to Washington, where he will serve — assuming he is confirmed — as Trump’s Secretary of State. That means Rubio’s seat will be vacant, and it will be DeSantis’ job to name Rubio’s replacement until the next election.
There are plenty of contenders within DeSantis’ own pool of political allies, such as Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, Attorney General Ashley Moody, former House Speaker José Oliva and DeSantis’ Chief of Staff, James Uthmeier. And those in Trumpworld had been pushing for DeSantis to appoint the President-elect’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, but she removed herself from consideration before Christmas.
DeSantis has been mum so far on whether he has any favorites, but he offered some clues in a post shortly after Trump announced his intention to appoint Rubio as Secretary of State.
“Florida deserves a senator who will help President Trump deliver on his election mandate, be strong on immigration and border security, take on the entrenched bureaucracy and administrative state, reverse the nation’s fiscal decline, be animated by conservative principles, and has a proven record of results,” he wrote.
Lara Trump certainly would have been that, and any of those in DeSantis’ circle no doubt would be standard-bearers of the Trump brand, too. But that description could just as easily be applied to DeSantis himself.
I imagine DeSantis still wants to be President and he likely believes he is the front-runner for when Trump is term-limited from running again in 2028.
But four years is an eternity in politics.
No one in Florida would be upset if DeSantis appointed himself, especially with Lara Trump out of contention. GOP voters certainly know and support DeSantis more than Moody. It’s more than likely that few even know who Nuñez, Oliva or Uthmeier are.
And while DeSantis’ star had been rising in recent years within GOP politics writ large, it has withered within the MAGAverse, where his strong contingent of vocal and powerful allies will no doubt do whatever they can between now and the next Presidential Election cycle to keep DeSantis small. Look no further than teasing DeSantis for Trump’s Secretary of Defense nomination, for what would have been a replacement nod following the massive blowback against a far more controversial choice in Fox News personality Pete Hegseth.
If I know the operatives in Mar-a-Lago as well as I think I do, I suspect they’ll be wearing pins reading “ABR” — Anybody But Ron — in 2027-28.
But a U.S. Sen. DeSantis would be his own base of power. Far be it from DeSantis needing Trump, it would be Trump who needs DeSantis. And Florida’s Governor, branded not so long ago as “America’s Governor,” could be the ideological MAGA leader in the Sunshine State.
Such a post would guarantee that DeSantis would remain in the limelight once he’s out of the Governor’s Office. And that importance cannot be overstated — just ask Jeb Bush how hard it is to run for President as an ex-anything (“please clap“).
Does DeSantis really want to spend the next two years repairing whatever bridge is destroyed by the inevitable next hurricane? Does he look forward to wrangling the most recent class of state lawmakers, a group that has already shown it’s willing to be difficult for the executive branch, unlike the last class that fell in line behind a leader with a rising national profile?
It’s not like a DeSantis run for U.S. Senate would be a shocking aspiration — he already ran briefly for the job in 2016.
At this point, what does DeSantis have to lose?
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Material from the Associated Press was used in this post.
17 comments
Alexandra Zakhvatayev
December 30, 2024 at 3:10 pm
If Desantis appoints himself then it would leave his Gubernatorial seat open and if Byron Donalds decides to run for that seat, I will run to replace Byron Donalds in the special election for Congressional District 19 to represent SW Florida in the house!
JD
December 31, 2024 at 11:14 am
Gross.
George Navarini
January 2, 2025 at 4:12 am
Alexandra, the seat will not become “open” rather Lt Governor would assume the governorship for the remaining two years.
Additionally, as she will end up serving less than half of the remaining term, she would be able to run for for two terms u set her own steam.
Knowing Lt Gov Nunez she will make a fantastic governor for Florida, bring a combination of intelligence, political acumen, and charm to Florida. She still has a strong relationship with key members of the legislature and would not be a pushover.
Patrick X Amoresano
December 30, 2024 at 4:21 pm
No self-respecting Chief Executive, particularly one who has effectively run a State as large and diverse as Florida, would regard a junior Senator’s seat as anything other than a big demotion into oblivion.
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
December 31, 2024 at 10:50 am
Thanks Patrick,
But let me, Earl Pitts American, skool you in proper on-line comments ediquete.
EARL SKOOLS PATRICK:
Pat welcome to Florida Politics. Please take a moment to determine who actually wrote the above article.
Thats correct, Patrick, it is Peter Schorsch, the genius owner/operator of this Sage Publication.
Now, Patrick, while your commentary is well-written, and not technically offensive to the casual reader, you appear to have come here on F. P. and for some reason you have taken a contrary view to the Sage Wisdom our Beloved Leader, Peter Schorsch, the great man who took his own time to promugulate his thoughts for our edification in his well-written artical above.
BAD FORM Patrick,
Do better next time,
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
JD
December 31, 2024 at 11:17 am
This could be further evidence that EARL, Florida is Red, etc. are shills and now casts a light it could be Peter or his paid minions writing here over a Xtina’s. The comment section makes the SEO on this blog absolutely fantastic – indexing in days, not weeks or months on the search engines so there is motive.
Not saying it is, but conspiracy theories are laden with probable truths.
Something to ponder.
Debra
December 31, 2024 at 4:42 pm
I agree. Well said.
Earl Pitts American
January 1, 2025 at 6:46 am
I’m sorry Debra and JD,
But you are both wrong. There is absloutly no such evidence, you are both just being jerks, and as a result of your insolance you are both CHASTIZED.
Earl Pitts American
JD
January 1, 2025 at 2:43 pm
The more you deny, the more it rings true (and the less credibility you have Shitts – if that is possible).
It’s a brillant game of 3d chess from Peter I must say.
Chastize all you feel you need.
Bone Spur Stormy Epstein
December 31, 2024 at 4:18 pm
DeSantis was turned into a national laughing stock after he high heels debacle. He got absolutely destroyed in his own native born state by a carpet bagger who wasn’t even a Republican 10 years ago. Half of Trump’s MAGA followers despise DeSantis for daring to challenge the convicted criminal in the wake or the January 6th national disgrace. With Trump’s blessing DeSantis could become a lifelong Senate critter like McConnell or Chuck Schumer. But Trump will do everything in his power to make sure DeSantis is never the Republican nominee.
Cindy
December 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
The great Divine. And your tax dollars for more capitalism.
Mike D.
January 1, 2025 at 12:52 am
Whats up with Mosaic and radioactive material being used in Florida roads as a result of a shady backdoor deal? Everyone knows the phosphate industry has a heavy hand in Florida politics throwing money around to anyone that’ll except it to do their bidding. Politicians as well as the Florida Department Of Environmental Protection are all on board for a dollar. Anyone with half a brain can see that in recent actions that literally destroy our states naturals wonders. So I had high hopes for Ron when he introduced the clean water act. But I have to say the whole radioactive gypsum as road aggregate written into law blows my mind. Where do you think the run off water from these radioactive roads will go? I’ll tell you. Right into the watershed and ends up in our aquifers. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out this is a bad idea. So my question is why take steps to keep our water clean and let this trash bill pass? Sounds like someone’s bending the knee Ron. It’s not only irresponsible as a steward of our states land but reckless. It has irreversible effects that all of us residents have to live with. Super disappointed in Ron as well as the FDEP (which is obviously compromised).
JD
January 1, 2025 at 6:07 am
Your listed worry is the proverbial tip of the iceberg.
If you want the Everest of governmental grift (and in this case the entrenched Republicans), ask who is profitting from the school voucher program? Yeah, the one they used as a cultural war pawn to gain power and cement a government dollar pipeline.
Nothing like using kids for financial gain under the guise of “parental choice”.
Scumbags.
FactsRUs
January 1, 2025 at 11:53 am
The article is essentially correct with one exception.
DeSantis can appoint a proven conservative placeholder and continue being governor and run in two years for the Senate seat and run for POTUS as a U.S. Senator…And win. America First agenda was just betrayed by Musk, Vivek and DJT on H1B visas. Trump has hurt Vance. It’s a crazy 180 reversal.
George Navarini
January 2, 2025 at 4:23 am
Sorry, but your premise is flawed. As Sen. Rubio won re-election in 2022, this seat does not come up for reflection until 2028, and Sen.Scot did not come up for reflection until 2030.
As such, there will be no open Senate seat in Florida for DeSantis to run for in 2026 to set up the scenario your described.
The only way the Governor could run as a sitting Senator would be to name himself to the soon-to-be seat.
Professor Paul Pennypecker
January 1, 2025 at 4:55 pm
Who in the world is Charlie Crist?
Chase Gioberti
January 1, 2025 at 8:08 pm
DeSantis will definitely appoint himself. What’s he going to do? Work in the private sector after 2026? Why start now? He’s a career bureaucrat. (Also not MAGA in any shape, matter, or form.)