Florida Gov. DeSantis draws cheers at GOP convention but now faces hazy political future
DeSantis, 45, is facing a different political juncture since Vance, 39, joined Trump’s ticket.
Gov. Ron DeSantis drew lots of love from fellow Republicans for his energetic speech at the Republican National Convention, even as his future political course is clouded with the rise of Donald Trump’s pick for vice president, Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance.
DeSantis served up plenty of red meat Tuesday night for the convention crowd with his full-throated support of Trump, his one-time rival for the presidential nomination.
The Florida governor repeatedly attacked President Biden’s border policies, while also accusing the Democratic administration of wanting to ban gasoline-powered automobiles, take away gun rights, expand gender ideology and retain diversity programs.
He may have gotten the biggest crowd roar of the night, saying, “We need a commander in chief who can lead 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Americans cannot afford four more years of a ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ presidency.”
Trump, in his VIP box at the convention, laughed at DeSantis’ reference to the 1989 movie featuring two young employees – and a dead boss.
Many of the themes touted by DeSantis reflected those of his unsuccessful presidential campaign, which ended in January, and an endorsement of Trump, whose campaign had mercilessly attacked him.
Culture war issues and a pledge to “never, ever surrender to the woke mob,” punctuated DeSantis’ speech.
How Vance complicates DeSantis' future political plans
But DeSantis, 45, is facing a different political juncture since Vance, 39, joined Trump’s ticket.
Vance is widely seen as poised to inherit Trump’s Make America Great Again voting base, troubling any DeSantis hopes for a rebound and another White House run in 2028.
DeSantis will finish his second term as Florida governor following the 2026 elections. And Vance looms large over any down-the-road path DeSantis may take.
“J.D. Vance becomes sort of the frontrunner to carry on the Trump legacy, and that’s going to be a challenge for anyone, including Gov. DeSantis, (Florida U.S. Sen.) Marco Rubio, and Nikki Haley, who’s clearly trying to keep her name viable inside the Republican Party,” said Kevin Wagner, a political scientist and pollster at Florida Atlantic University.
How Florida turned red: Changing population, weak opposition, aggressive Gov. Ron DeSantis
Haley, a former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador under Trump, also appeared on stage at Tuesday’s RNC to praise and endorse Trump.
She seemed to be less of an immediate GOP fan favorite than DeSantis, who managed to avoid staying long in this year’s nominating fight.
Haley’s staying in the race until March clearly irritated the former president. And her speech Tuesday appeared intended to help her find a place going forward in a Trump-controlled GOP.
A future in a second Trump administration could be possible for DeSantis, according to some speculation. But for now, DeSantis is still reigning as governor of a state likely to deliver strongly in November for Trump. He’s also raising money for Trump and Republicans across the nation.
Meanwhile, DeSantis is still making the rounds at the RNC. His calendar for Wednesday included a lunchtime speech before Republican convention delegates from Iowa, where his presidential campaign died following a dismal, second-place finish in the state’s caucuses.
The big winner in Iowa? Trump.
John Kennedy is a reporter in the Paste BN Network’s Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on X at @JKennedyReport.