Casey DeSantis Continues to Raise Campaign Cash, Run for Office Appears Imminent

TALLAHASSEE— Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has said that he believes First Lady Casey DeSantis would be a better governor than him if she ran for his job in 2026.

A formal 2026 gubernatorial announcement appears imminent. The Floridian has learned that Mrs. DeSantis could formally announce her candidacy as early as this week or next.

Just last week in Miami, Mrs. DeSantis was asked if she would run, and she promptly answered with a very scripted,” To quote the late great Yogi Berra: ‘When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

How do we know it was scripted?

Mrs. DeSantis is seen glancing down at her note card a moment before reciting her Yogi Berra quote.

Obviously, DeSantis’s gubernatorial candidacy would be seen as a direct bird-flipping gesture to President Donald Trump and  Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

The bad blood between the DeSantis's and Wiles has been well-documented.

Why Would DeSantis Announce Now?

Why not?

Remember, lobbyists in Tallahassee cannot donate to Gov. DeSantis and state lawmakers once the 2025 legislative session begins, but they sure can donate to others running for elected office, like Mrs. DeSantis.

And while there are some reluctant lobbyists, most need to see their bills move along in both chambers, and for Gov. DeSantis to sign them into law.

More importantly, lobbyist need to see their legislative measures and initiative make it all they way through the appropriation process and on to DeSantis’s desk, where they still could face the governor’s veto pen.

We already know DeSantis has been calling on donors in hopes to ice them from donating to Trump-endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds. Just this week, several Tallahassee-based lobbyists told The Floridian that they were asked to support Casey DeSantis.

During the 2023 legislative cycle, it appeared as if DeSantis put off signing the budget longer than usual because he wanted to shake every last dollar from the fruitful Tallahassee lobby corps.

Shortly after the budget was signed that year, DeSantis announced his ill-fated presidential run against now President Donald Trump.

Trump Slate vs. DeSantis Slate

One of the worst kept secrets in Florida Politics is that Team DeSantis could form a election slate to help shore up Republican support behind his wife in hopes that it will be enough to counter the support a Team MAGA slate comprised of Rep. Donalds, Senator Joe Gruters, and possibly Senate President Albritton, Speaker Daniel Perez,  and former Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls.

Governor— Byron Donalds vs. Casey DeSantis

Attorney General— Chris Sprowls vs. AG James Uthmeier

AG Commissioner—Sen. Ben Albritton/ AG Wilton Simpson vs ???

CFO— Sen. Joe Gruters vs Sen. Blaise “Donuts” Ingoglia

DeSantis’s anonymous online “influencer” team has been busy trying to paint Donalds as some criminal  for a past marijuana possession and for missing  votes in the House of Representatives.

While hitting Donalds on his past missteps and voting records is fair game, expect MAGA world influencer like Laura Loomer and Roger Stone to quickly paint Mrs. DeSantis as a puppet for her husband’s aspiration to control the Executive Office of the Governor (EOG) for third term.

Why?

Again, why not?

DeSantis has presidential aspirations. We don’t think he really cares if current Vice President JD Vance runs for President in 2028.

DeSantis has proven he can raise big campaign bucks as a sitting governor, but can he do it as the former governor of Florida?

Maybe, but if he can help elect his wife Casey governor, she will then control the biggest bully pulpit in the state and help her husband raise cash for his potential 2028 or 2032 presidential campaigns.

A Cute Way of Staying in Power

The biggest obstacle the DeSantis’ will face is shaking off the fact that Casey winning the governership in 2026 will be seen as Gov. DeSantis’ third term in office.

Technically, if Casey wins, it would be her first term in office and not Ron’s third. Technically.

But we all know that’s a bunch of bullshit, because DeSantis will most-likely be rolling up his sleeves to continue pushing his political agenda and growing his national footprint.

Do you actually think that DeSantis would be staying home all day playing golf and picking up the kids from school, or that he will continue his all-involvement in state government?

Here is something to think about this week?

Could DeSantis appoint Casey to be his Lt. Governor now that former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez has left the EOG?

Could Mrs. DeSantis tap her husband to be her Lt. governor running mate?

Both of these notions seem a bit far-fetched, but are they?

Here is another thought to process?

Could Rep. Donalds run for governor and tap Speaker Perez, Rep. Weinberger, … to be his Lt. Governor?

One thing is for certain, both Donalds and DeSantis are viable gubernatorial candidates, but will the bad blood between Gov. DeSantis and President Trump reach new heights if and when Casey jumps into the race against Donalds?

To quote former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, “You Betcha!”

Donalds Responds to Casey DeSantis' Potential Gubernatorial Run