'Not Been Part of Victories': DeSantis Trashes Donalds for Gov, Touts First Lady Casey DeSantis

Gov. Ron DeSantis weighed in on the 2026 governor's race on Monday by lashing out at Donald Trump's candidate, Byron Donalds, for failing to help defeat "the left" in Florida while suggesting his wife, Casey DeSantis, would be the stronger pick in the 2026 race.

Wading into the looming gubernatorial race for the first time since President Trump endorsed Congressman Donalds for the position on Friday, DeSantis blasted the Representative for campaigning in other states and not bringing in results. He then brought up the "wonderful First Lady" who would "do better" than DeSantis had in a Republican primary.

This is the first time DeSantis hasn't brushed off rumors that his wife, a former reporter, could run for Florida's chief executive position.

"You got a guy like Byron, 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 at a Monday press conference in Tampa.

"He’s been in other states campaigning, and that's fine, but okay, well then deliver results up there!" He continued, claiming Congress hasn't "done very much" to implement Trump's agenda. DeSantis later pivoted to Casey DeSantis, who led in a prospective Republican primary poll conducted days before Trump threw his weight behind Donalds.

"I won by the biggest margin that any Republican's ever won a governor's race here in Florida—she would do better than me, there's no question about that," DeSantis said, splitting heavily from past comments claiming the governorship is "not something she's seeking out" and has "zero" interest in.

DeSantis and Donalds, once allies, had a falling out in 2023 over new teaching standards requiring middle school students to learn that enslaved people "developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit," Politico reported. Donalds, Florida's sole Black Republican Congressman, called the lessons "wrong" and asked that they "be adjusted."

This only resulted in DeSantis' spokespeople, known for their aggressive defense of the governor on social media, accusing Donalds of not being a real conservative.

DeSantis also revealed that he will wait until after the legislative session to appoint a new Chief Financial Officer, which will be empty on March 31, and Lieutenant Governor, an already-vacated seat.

Other rumored Republican candidates for governor include Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and former Rep. Matt Gaetz. Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo is a likely contender on the Democrat side.

The primaries will take place in August 2026.