Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Monday denied speculation that his wife, Casey DeSantis, is interested in running for office in the future.
At a news conference Monday, DeSantis was asked whether his wife would consider running for Florida governor in 2026 after his second term ends. He said some people have floated her as a candidate for governor because of her accomplishments as Florida's first lady.
“If I had to characterize her interest in participating in political activity as a candidate, I would characterize it as zero,” DeSantis said with a smile. “She had a front row seat to all the silliness that happens when you do it.”
Florida limits governors to two consecutive terms, sparking speculation about who might run for the Sunshine State's top spot in 2026. A recent Florida Atlantic University (FAU) poll found that 38% of respondents would hypothetically prefer Casey DeSantis. In the Republican gubernatorial primary, he defeated Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who received 16% of the vote.
In a poll last month, 26% said they were unsure who they would support, while 20% said they would support another candidate.
Mr. DeSantis ran for the White House himself last year, but suspended his campaign earlier this year and endorsed Mr. Trump.
His wife, Casey, was a central figure in DeSantis' gubernatorial and presidential campaigns and was a prominent figure throughout his tenure.
She has launched a number of initiatives of her own, including Mamas for DeSantis, which will run in 2022 as part of her husband's re-election campaign. She also launched the Florida Cancer Connect Initiative after her own battle with cancer.
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