DeSantis Warns 2026 GOP Gubernatorial Candidates About Backing 'Weak' Illegal Immigration Bill

WEST PALM BEACH— Florida Governor Ron DeSantis just gave an ominous warning to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and any Republican (GOP) looking to run for governor in 2016 about taking a position on illegal immigration— speak up against the Florida House’s “Weak” illegal immigration bill or “You are dead on arrival.”

Gov. DeSantis remarked in response to a question posed to him about whether he thought the legislature’s awarding illegal immigration enforcement power to the Agriculture Commissioner in the bill was a political ploy.

I'm not exactly sure about the dynamics, but I know I know he has a big hand in anything that goes on over there. I don't know if he asked for this to be at the Department of Agriculture,” said Gov. DeSantis. “I don't know if they just thought, but I would say anybody running for what wants to run for governor, if you're not willing to come out now and oppose this swampy piece of legislation, you are not going to get elected governor in this state.” I can guarantee.”

“So I can't speak for him, I don't know what his what was in this. I don't know if he wanted it Department of Agriculture, maybe people just wanted to give it to him. So you have to ask him that, but,” DeSantis continued.

House Speaker Accuses governor of not communicating with lawmakers

DeSantis didn’t say he would work against any potential gubernatorial candidate who did not come out against the legislative measure, but his assertion that anyone running in a Republican primary would be “dead on arrival” speaks for itself.

“If you are running in a primary with this thing around your neck, you are dead on arrival,” he concluded.

In response to Gov. DeSantis warning, Rep. Byron Donalds, who is strongly considering a run for governor in 2026, told The Floridian that he “believes  the governor should have the sole authority” to dictate enforcement of immigration laws in Florida, adding that “President Trump ran won on the promise to fix illegal immigration problem caused by the Biden administration,” and that he would support hawkish immigration laws both at the state and federal level that would summarily cripple, and hopefully, “end the flow of illegal immigration and the criminality that comes with it.”

"Police powers around the immigration czar need to reside with the governor," said Rep. Donalds on the PBD podcast.

Did the 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary race just start?

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