Desantis Emerges As Florida Gop’s Closer Amid Multiple Tight Midterm Races

TALLAHASSEE, Florida — In the final week before the midterm elections in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis is giving last-minute boosts to state Republicans from the top of the ticket to multiple newly redrawn House seats.

On Monday, DeSantis held a rally in Pinellas County with Sen. Ashley Moody, who’s running for reelection against progressive insurgent Angie Nixon. He spoke at three teletown halls Tuesday with GOP House candidates aiming to add to Florida Republicans' delegation advantage. And he’s scheduled to make at least two appearances before Election Day alongside Rep. Byron Donalds, who is locked in a narrow race to succeed him as governor.

The campaign blitz from DeSantis is a final push to continue the GOP’s long-held grip on the state’s top positions — and to close the deal on a mid-decade redistricting effort the governor spearheaded that aimed to net the party four extra seats in Congress. It also marks a notable recent shift in the governor’s participation this election cycle, after he previously only appeared at a smattering of GOP campaign events.

DeSantis held separate teletown halls Tuesday with Mike Beltran, Casey Askar and Dan Green, all three of whom are running in Democratic-held seats previously targeted for flipping under the newly redrawn maps. Yet the congressional victories Florida Republicans hoped for may not materialize; Askar and Beltran’s races are identified as a toss up by the Cook Political Report.

“I know that Mike is somebody who not only is going to take on the DSA and the left Democrats, obviously he’d do that, but also be willing to take on leaders in his own party to make sure that we're doing what's right,” DeSantis said, echoing language about DSA fears that has been a cornerstone of Republican midterm messaging.

The GOP is facing headwinds nationwide from the war in Iran, affordability concerns and President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Even in reliably red Florida, cracks have begun to emerge: Statewide candidates are polling close to their Democratic challengers, Trump’s popularity has tanked, and the party’s iron grip on the state Legislature could slightly weaken.

Gaining support from the governor, who polls have previously shown to be more popular with Florida voters than Trump, is a coveted campaign boon for GOP candidates running to serve in a post-DeSantis Florida. Appearing alongside him could provide badly needed support in the final days before Election Day.

Beltran, a former state legislator, highlighted his connection to DeSantis during his town hall while accusing his opponent, Rep. Kathy Castor, of aligning with the Democratic Party’s left wing. In Green’s town hall, DeSantis praised the candidate as someone who has “a clear commitment to doing a lot of the things that Florida has done well.”

The governor also urged town hall listeners to vote for Amendment 3, the ballot measure that would cut property taxes. Despite previously saying that he likely wouldn’t campaign for the measure because it didn’t go as far as he wanted, he has since made multiple appearances supporting it ahead of the midterms. Recent polling has indicated Amendment 3 is also in danger of falling short of garnering enough votes for passage.

“It's really important,” DeSantis said Tuesday. “Really, the only shot you're going to get at property tax relief for the foreseeable future. So please, take advantage of that.”

Top GOP hopefuls, including Donalds, have touted DeSantis’ endorsement in their campaigns and pledged to continue his legacy. Donalds is in a close race with Democratic nominee David Jolly, who has pledged to reverse “the damage DeSantis has done to our state.” DeSantis is expected to appear at a Brooksville pizza restaurant with Donalds on Wednesday, and again on Sunday in Tampa.

The two have previously had a mixed track record; Donalds supported Trump instead of DeSantis during the 2024 GOP presidential primary. In this year’s Republican gubernatorial race, DeSantis didn’t endorse Donalds until he had already won the GOP nomination, saying before he jumped in the contest that the congressman “just hasn’t been a part of any of the victories that we’ve had here over the left over these last few years.” The two have shared the stage together once since Donalds’ victory in the primaries.

Yet it’s unclear how many voters will be energized or swayed in the final days before the election. More than 3.5 million voters — roughly one-quarter of total registered voters — have already cast their ballots for the general election as of Tuesday evening, according to data from Fresh Take Florida.

DeSantis urged Tuesday’s town hall listeners to turn out — and to turn out early.

“There’s no reason to wait,” he said.