Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Wants His Wife Casey To Succeed Him In 2026 – But Trump Has Other Ideas

Alessio AtriaMarch 1, 2025, 1:07 amNews >

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Florida) talked up his wife, Casey DeSantis, to become his possible successor in 2026 while also taking a shot at Donald Trump‘s pick for the next governor. During a news conference held in downtown Tampa, DeSantis told reporters that Casey would be the perfect governor for Florida.

“People ask me all the time about [Casey], who has done a fantastic job as first lady of Florida,” he claimed. He also noted that there have “been a lot of people” who have talked “about her running.”

“And what I said was, you know, that’s not – she’s never angled for anything, right,” DeSantis noted. “Because that’s just not who she is. I mean, she kind of, you know, does what she does. But I will tell you this, you know, you’re talking about somebody like her.”

“I won by the biggest margin that any Republicans ever want in a governor’s race here in Florida,” DeSantis declared. “She would do better than me, like, there’s no question about that. That would happen. And she’s somebody that has, I think, the intestinal fortitude and the dedication to conservative principles that, you know – anything we’ve accomplished, she’d be able to take to the next level.”

The governor held this news conference four days after Trump shared his support for Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Florida), who announced in January that he would prepare a team to run for governor in 2026.

“I am hearing that Highly Respected Congressman Byron Donalds is considering running for Governor of Florida, a State that I love, and WON BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“I know Byron well, have seen him tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and he is a TOTAL WINNER. Byron has a great wife, Erika, and three beautiful sons. They are very proud of him!”

“As Governor, Byron would have a BIG Voice and would work closely with me to advance our America First Agenda,” the president noted. “He will fight tirelessly to Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Military, Protect our Vets, Restore our Economic Power, Advance American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. Byron Donalds would be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida and, should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, BYRON, RUN!”

While speaking to the reporters, DeSantis took a shot at the Florida congressman.

“We’ve achieved victories in Florida,” he mentioned. “We need to start achieving those victories up there.” He asserted that “a guy like [Donalds] – he just hasn’t been a part of any of the victories we’ve had here over these last years.”

“He’s just not been a part of it,” the governor stated. “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.”

Since withdrawing from the presidential race, DeSantis has seen his political power wane. Following protests last year, he withdrew his controversial proposal to create golf courses, pickleball courts and hotels in Florida state parks.