Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis stirred political speculation after a high-profile appearance at the National Review Institute’s Ideas Summit, where she joined her husband, Governor Ron DeSantis, for a public discussion. Though she stopped short of confirming any plans to run, her comments suggested that a 2026 gubernatorial bid is a real possibility.
During the conversation, moderator Jim Geraghty addressed the growing buzz: “There is growing speculation you will run for governor,” he said, drawing laughter and heightened interest from the audience. Casey responded by praising her husband’s leadership and emphasizing the importance of political courage. She ended her response with a suggestive, “We’ll see, right? We’ll see,” leaving the door open to future candidacy.
.@CaseyDeSantis: "We'll See."
👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/By0XgPt18S
— NR Institute (@NR_Institute) March 21, 2025
Throughout the event, she described Governor DeSantis as “the GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) and applauded his efforts in turning Florida into what she called a model for conservative governance. She also stressed the need for strength in politics, warning that the state’s achievements are “extremely fragile” and can only be preserved through principled, dedicated leadership. Her critique of those who seek office for status rather than service further solidified her position as a leader focused on substance over ambition, reported Mediate.
Her remarks come as Florida approaches a significant political transition. Governor DeSantis, restricted by term limits from running again, has increasingly highlighted his wife’s capabilities. At the summit, he openly expressed his support for her, saying, “She would do better than me.” The endorsement bolstered ongoing rumors that she could emerge as a leading Republican contender in the post-DeSantis era.
Adding to the intrigue, former President Donald Trump has already endorsed Representative Byron Donalds for governor, calling him a “truly Great and Powerful Governor” on Truth Social. However, Governor DeSantis downplayed Donalds’ chances, pointing out the congressman’s absence from Florida’s recent political battles. “He’s been in other states campaigning,” DeSantis remarked, reinforcing the message that Florida needs continuity in leadership, not just national visibility.
Although the 2026 gubernatorial race is still more than a year away, the early positioning by key figures—especially Casey DeSantis’s emerging political presence—signals that this contest will play a major role in shaping the Republican Party’s future.
A recent poll showed that DeSantis would be a strong candidate, noted USA Today. “Of respondents who are registered Republicans, 57% said they had a favorable opinion of Casey DeSantis. Overall, 30% were favorable, 22% said unfavorable, and 33% had never heard of her, the numbers show.
‘Casey DeSantis was the top early pick for potential Republican primary candidates when we asked back in late 2023, albeit with only 22% support,’ PORL faculty director and professor of political science Dr. Michael Binder said in a statement.
“She likely enjoys some favorability by association as Florida’s first lady,” Binder added, “but most of these potential candidates suffer from a lack of recognition, some suffering more than others. That said, I expect we’ll see a few of them become household names by the time the August 2026 primary rolls around.”
For instance, Casey DeSantis had the best rating of those speculated to be considering a 2026 run for governor. Among registered Republicans, U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody had 35% favorability, former U.S. Rep Matt Gaetz had 33%, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds had 27% and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson was at 7%, the poll shows.”
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What a great way to put it. She is 100% correct about her husband and his record and the kind of man he is. If I lived in Florida and could vote Casey De Santis would be my first choice. She has seen a great mentor for the job.