Governor Ron DeSantis has decided to toss his political instincts out the window, all in the name of marital harmony. The term-limited governor, who cannot run for the office again in 2026, has refused to back Congressman Byron Donalds for the job, despite Donalds receiving a coveted endorsement from President Donald Trump last week.
Instead, DeSantis is pushing his wife, Casey DeSantis, as the next potential governor of Florida. During a press conference in Tampa, DeSantis took a few swipes at Donalds, pointing out the congressman’s absence from Florida’s recent conservative victories.
“He just hasn’t been a part of any of the victories we’ve had here over the left these last years,” DeSantis said, conveniently forgetting that he missed plenty of votes in Congress while campaigning for governor in 2018.
The governor went on to praise Casey, claiming she’d outshine his own landslide 2022 win because of her “intestinal fortitude and dedication to conservative principles.”
Behind closed doors, the story takes an unexpected turn. Sources close to DeSantis, speaking anonymously to The Washington Wick, reveal that the governor privately admits Donalds is the stronger candidate.
“Ron knows Byron’s got the edge — Trump’s endorsement alone makes him the right choice,” one insider said. “But Casey’s got her heart set on the governor’s mansion, and Ron’s not about to risk a cold shoulder at home or sleeping on the couch over something as trivial as, you know, the future of Florida.”
Donalds, for his part, didn’t waste time moping over the snub. Fresh off Trump’s endorsement, he announced his candidacy Tuesday night on Fox News, promising to “keep the best state in the country as the best state in the country.”
The Naples Republican sidestepped any mention of Casey, focusing instead on issues like property insurance costs and cryptocurrency.
The tension between DeSantis and Donalds isn’t new. Once allies, the two drifted apart when Donalds backed Trump over DeSantis in the 2024 presidential primary.
“Ron’s spent years building a legacy as Florida’s conservative kingpin,” said Tallahassee lobbyist Frank Dugan. “Now he’s handing the reins to Casey, even though he knows Donalds could run circles around most contenders."
Casey DeSantis, a former TV journalist and the governor’s closest confidante, has long been a fixture in his political rise. She’s spearheaded initiatives like Hope Florida and survived breast cancer, earning her a loyal following. But whether that translates into gubernatorial victory remains an open question — one that DeSantis seems willing to gamble his reputation on, just to keep the home fires burning.
As the 2026 race heats up, Florida Republicans are left wondering if DeSantis’s loyalty to his wife will cost the state a shot at a Trump-backed powerhouse.
“Casey’s great, don’t get me wrong,” said a GOP donor who declined to be named. “But Ron’s basically torching his own playbook to make her happy — it’s the ultimate husband move, just not the smartest political one.”
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