In a move to blunt the power grab Gov. Ron DeSantis appears to potentially be planning by endorsing his wife, First Lady Casey DeSantis, to succeed his governorship, President Donald Trump’s full endorsement of Rep. Byron Donalds (R) puts the popular congressman from Southwest Florida in line to become the first Black Governor in state history.
Back in December 2024, Gov. DeSantis commissioned a poll to try to gauge where his wife’s name recognition and popularity was among statewide Republican voters.
Since the poll, both Gov. DeSantis and Mrs. DeSantis have hinted at a possible run, leading to speculation that the poll results came back somewhat favorable to them.
DeSantis online anonymous “trolls” have already begun their 2026 campaign against Donalds, trying to paint him as a criminal.
Let’s just be clear. A Casey DeSantis governorship would be a third term for Gov. DeSantis.
It’s as simple as that.
Now, a new poll of 600 likely Republican Primary voters released by veteran Republican Pollster Tony Fabrizio shows that in a head-to-head match up between Rep. Donalds and Mrs. DeSantis, Donalds dismantles a potential ‘DeSantis Dynasty.’
Fabrizio Lee & Associates has been hired by Donalds’ gubernatorial campaign.
According to Fabrizio’s poll, Donalds edged out DeSantis by a vote margin of 34%-30%, with AG Commissioner Wilton Simpson lagging behind with 3%.
Receiving the endorsement of the sitting US President all-but turns out all the lights for anyone running in a Republican primary race against the President Trump endorsee.
Shortly after The Floridian broke the news that DeSantis was actively working against Donalds by asking political donors to support his wife Casey, President Trump released the endorsement.
According to the poll, those voters polled backed Donalds over DeSantis by a whopping 45% to 23% marging after learning that he received the highly coveted Trump endorsement.
Trump vs. DeSantis II
Less than two years after his ill-fated run for president against arguably the most popular and influential president in modern American history, Gov. DeSantis could be betting the house on his wife’s potential candidacy.
Remember, DeSantis wasting over $100 million to try to defeat President Trump, and his effort years earlier to “kneecap” current White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles by targeting her livelihood back in 2019, have come back to possibly haunt him.
A third DeSantis run for office could be perceived as a lack of judgment (again) to go after Trump again, and if Team DeSantis enlists the same JV communications team it used in 2024, they can stick a fork in the campaign right now.
With voters aware that Trump endorsed Donalds and DeSantis endorsing Mrs. DeSantis, Donalds still beats Mrs. DeSantis by 10% percentage points.
“Much like the DeSantises’ fool’s errand in 2024 against President Trump where he got crushed, this data shows that the DeSantises would suffer a similar fate in Florida if Casey should run for Governor,” Fabrizio Lee & Associates partner Tony Fabrizio said in a statement. “The only real questions are: Will they betray President Trump again? And how many Tallahassee fools will follow them off the cliff a second time to do so?”
That second betrayal Fabrizio speaks about could ultimately and completely end the DeSantis rise to power.
Once-quiet Republican lawmakers have begun to voice their dissenting opinions and gripes against the DeSantis administration.
Speaker Daniel “Danny Perez” and Senate Ben Albritton, and State Senators Randy Fine and Joe Gruters, have led the anti-DeSantis charge in the Florida Legislature.
“Floridians do not support this kind of nepotism,” said Senator Fine.
During the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary election, DeSantis and individuals within his Executive Office were able to garner endorsements of the majority of state legislators.
This will not be the case if Mrs. DeSantis runs against Donalds.
Lawmakers, and lobbyist appear exhausted with the DeSantis’s, and are poised to continue their push back against the sitting governor.
As one close friend and advisor to DeSantis recently told The Floridian a couple weeks ago about his treatment of Republican lawmakers, “El se lo busco.”
Translation: “He asked for it.”
AG Commissioner Simpson, an egg farmer, has about 40 million reasons to run for governor, but running against Trump, and with having ties to some very questionable associations, Simpson could see his political eggs scrambled.
The winner of the 2026 Republican gubernatorial sweepstakes could face off against Republican-lite Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo or Progressive Democrats Senator Shevrin Jones and Rep. Angie Nixon.
