A.G. Gancarski
Florida’s First Lady sounded like a candidate for her husband’s job during a speech to the Global Liberty Institute on Friday.
After roughly 17 minutes of boilerplate, Casey DeSantis delivered a dire warning about how Florida could become a “purple state” sooner than later, mirroring rhetoric from Gov. Ron DeSantis.
And in her remarks, delivered at the end of that address, a discerning listener may have deduced the beginning of a 2026 stump speech in a GOP gubernatorial Primary.
“While we are leading here in the state of Florida, I would say, and this is true, even with a Republican supermajority and the GOAT in the Governor’s office, none of this, here, runs on autopilot. The winds in Florida and frankly the sanity and the freedom that we enjoy in the free state of Florida unfortunately are not guaranteed in perpetuity,” Casey DeSantis warned.
In addition to threats posed by “the left and special interests,” she said, “squishes wanting to go Republican lite by continuing to spend on massive boondoggles and not implementing the will of the people” also present obstacles.
The comments were circulated Monday night, hours after the Governor offered direct commentary about the dangers Donald Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds posed.
“You got a guy like Byron Donalds, he just hasn’t been a part of any of the victories that we’ve had here over the Left over these last years. He’s just not been a part of it,” DeSantis said in Tampa. “He’s been in other states campaigning, doing that, and that’s fine. But OK, well, then deliver results up there. You know, that’s what I want to see. I want to see them delivering results for the people of Florida. We deliver it here all the time for the people of Florida, and that’s what we need to be doing.”
Trump offered Donalds, a longtime ally in Congress, his endorsement last week. Donalds has said his team is having “internal conversations” and that an announcement is coming soon. The potential candidate has also hired prominent campaign staffers like Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio.
Polling that included Casey DeSantis and Byron Donalds has been favorable to Florida’s First Lady, including those who voted for Trump last year.
Recent polling from the University of North Florida (UNF) showed 57% of Trump voters approve of Casey DeSantis, while just 4% disapprove of her. Donalds does respectably well in the survey, with 3 in 10 Trump voters approving of the Congressman and just 2% disapproving. But that puts the Congressman far from DeSantis’ +53.
While a recent Trump Truth Social post spotlighted a January poll, first covered by Florida Politics, showing Donalds with a massive lead over a hypothetical field of Republican opponents (Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez), most polling goes Casey DeSantis’ way.
Per a June polling memo from Florida Atlantic University, she leads a field of candidates with 43% support, ahead of Donalds at 19%, with Jimmy Patronis and Matt Gaetz further back.
A poll conducted in April by FAU showed 38% of Florida Republicans polled would choose the First Lady in a head-to-head race against Gaetz, who would receive 16% support in that scenario.
A University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab survey from November 2023 showed the First Lady with 22% support, a lead in a crowded field of potential candidates.
The First Couple acted disinterested in remaining in the Governor’s Mansion for a while.
Casey DeSantis previously acknowledged the talk is “humbling” and maintains that the seeming enthusiasm for her running is due to her “rockstar” husband and his job as the state’s chief executive.
However, published speculation suggests there is more direct dialogue behind the scenes.
Matt Dixon of NBC News reports a “source familiar with her thinking” says a 2026 run is a possibility.
Indeed, her recent comments support that as a possibility.
17 comments
KathrynA
February 24, 2025 at 10:38 pm
A purple state sounds good! Especially after hearing DeSantis wants to do DOGE cuts here after already Leaving the poor and vulnerable with little health care, housing or food. But yet, for those who can’t afford housing, they can be arrested if homeless and let’s overturn the voter’s mandate and make marijuana legal for tax money and dumb down the citizenry along with cutting aid to schools and universities. Purple sounds good to me!
Dale Arnold
February 25, 2025 at 1:48 am
Oh the horror of Florida going back to being a purple state! As far as Desantis/Republicans honoring the “will of the people” like when “the people voted to give individuals that served their time the right to vote and Desantis and Republicans nullified it ? Or was it” honoring the will of the people” when they raised to percentage of voters amendments from a simple majority to 60% ? Amendments 3 and 4 both got at least 57% ! The “will of the people” is being overruled by minority of right wing culture war nuts! A purple state is Florida’s natural state of being and was much better for it!
John
February 25, 2025 at 2:27 am
I am fed up with the noise of vehicles with loud mufflers terrorizing our peaceful neighborhoods! Let’s elect a governor who will work to restore tranquility and enforce the laws that protect our homes.
MH/Duuuval
February 25, 2025 at 9:51 pm
Yeah, and add gasoline-powered lawn equipment that can be heard a mile away to banned list.
beachcomberT
February 25, 2025 at 5:20 am
Mrs. D is photogenic, projects a modern mother image and has her husband’s support. Plus many voters will remember her struggle with cancer.
Flash
February 25, 2025 at 10:16 am
I agree with everything you said. But, she has no experience.
MH/Duuuval
February 25, 2025 at 10:40 am
Mrs. Dee is experienced at reading news stories on TV and can translate that experience into reading directives from her hubby on TV and in public appearances.
Her major problem will be straying from the script, like DJT does so often. This is verboten.
Harold Finch
February 25, 2025 at 10:24 am
The statement below is absolutely sickening! So Trump is no a DeFacto King, Czar, Dictator who disenfranchises millions of Registered Republicans in the state! I say bull*+”! I am a very conservative Republican, but disgusted with Trump and all his mindless minions that would jump off the Brooklynn bridge if he told the too!
“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.”
Well, I will be supporting Casey DeSantis!
MH/Duuuval
February 25, 2025 at 10:41 am
The lesser of two evils.
Ron Ogden
February 25, 2025 at 10:52 am
Two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar: all for Casey stand up and hollar!
People are going to find out she’s tougher than the old man by a fair piece.
MH/Duuuval
February 25, 2025 at 11:20 am
Precisely. A more radical Maggie Thatcher.
She will not kowtow to Trump, which Dee has had to do so many times.
ScienceBLVR
February 25, 2025 at 2:16 pm
Casey, Donalds, and Gaetz are the top 3 GOP choices in a state of 23 million? How far the Grand Old Party has fallen…
SuzyQ
February 25, 2025 at 8:10 pm
Casey 2026! She’ll be the first woman to break the glass ceiling in Florida, and Ron will become Florida’s First Gentleman.
MH/Duuuval
February 25, 2025 at 9:54 pm
DeSantis is only a gentle man as an act of Congress declaring it so. Otherwise, he is more akin to the proverbial bull in a china shop. And getting more so everyday under the baleful eye of DJT.
SuzyQ
February 26, 2025 at 2:23 pm
Casey ’26!
Michael K
February 26, 2025 at 2:22 pm
She did a great job wearing opera gloves and burning through $160 million of other people’s money on her hubby’s failed presidential aspiration that yielded a loss in every single county in Iowa – not to mention the continual insults and slap downs from felonius Trump.
I think we’ve had more then enought of the DeSanti and their grifting and demonization of marginalized people. It will take years to correct the damage. No thanks. Besides, I don’t think Ron would make a nice First Lady or Gentleman.
SuzyQ
February 26, 2025 at 2:24 pm
Don’t be hater. Casey ’26!
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