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By Ewan Palmer
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Casey DeSantis, wife of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, previously said calls for her to run for office are proof of her husband's success.
The Florida first lady is considering running for governor to replace her husband, who will leave office when his second term ends in January 2027, NBC News reported, citing unnamed sources.
Newsweek has contacted Governor DeSantis' office for comment via email.
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Why It Matters
If confirmed, the hard-line agenda that Ron DeSantis has implemented in Florida over the past six years could continue if his wife becomes the next governor.
What To Know
Casey DeSantis is considering running for office, and Republican donors discussed the prospect at a recent gathering in Palm Beach County, according to NBC News.
The Florida Constitution bars Governor DeSantis from seeking a third consecutive term, meaning there will be an open 2026 Republican primary ahead of the general gubernatorial election.
Casey DeSantis, who frequently joins her husband on the campaign trail, including during his 2024 presidential bid, has long been cited as a potential future governor.
The Florida first lady addressed the speculation about her candidacy during a May 2024 interview on the Conservative Review podcast.
Casey DeSantis said such discussions are humbling and a sign that Floridians are happy with the job her "rock star" husband has done in office.
Casey DeSantis did not indicate any ambition to run for office during the May 2024 interview.
That same month, Governor DeSantis said he believes his wife has zero ambition to enter politics herself.
In June 2024, a poll from Florida Atlantic University and Mainstreet Research found that 43 percent of respondents chose Casey DeSantis as their preferred 2026 GOP gubernatorial candidate. State Representative Byron Donalds finished with 19 percent.
The survey was conducted among 883 Florida adults and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.
In addition to Donalds, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and former Congressman Matt Gaetz are considered potential 2026 Florida gubernatorial candidates.
What People Are Saying
Casey DeSantis said on Conservative Review in May 2024 about running for governor: "That is a very humbling thing. And I will tell you this, when people talk about me running for governor, I think it speaks highly about the governor himself. I think when people see me, it is because they are so happy about everything that this governor has done for the state of Florida.
"This state is thriving because not only is he the smartest guy in the room, but he's also a guy that has a lot of courage and strength, and he, frankly, is my hero. And so when people start talking about, 'Oh, you should run,' that's because Governor DeSantis is a rock star, and that's because people are so proud of everything he's done for this state."
Governor Ron DeSantis said about the speculation in May 2024: "If I had to characterize her interest in getting into the political thicket as a candidate, I would characterize it as zero. But, you know, I think it's because she has had a front-row seat on all the nonsense that goes on when you do it."
Kevin Wagner, co-director of FAU's PolCom Lab and professor of political science, analyzed the June 2024 poll: "There's clearly an appetite among Republican voters to see Casey DeSantis carry on her husband's legacy as governor. Her high name recognition gives her an early advantage, but the race is still very much wide open."
Roger Stone, political consultant and ally of President Donald Trump, posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday: "As I predicted, Casey DeSantis is 'considering' running for governor. Please, God, make this true so that Byron Donalds can expose the epic corruption of Casey and her demented mutant husband and beat her entitled a**."
What Happens Next
The 2026 GOP gubernatorial primary in Florida is likely to become a proxy war between Trump and those who support his one-time ally turned rival, DeSantis.
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