The Casey Desantis Question Looming Over Florida's Governor Race

Florida first lady Casey DeSantis over the last month has gone on conservative podcasts warning about toxic substances found in popular candy bars. She went on Fox News to alert parents of contaminants in baby formula and hosted moms at the governor’s mansion to talk about their vaccine concerns.

What she didn’t discuss, however, is her political future in Florida. It’s a topic of intense interest amid a pivotal governor’s race and her husband Ron DeSantis’ last year as the state’s leader.

“She’s clearly doing something different, and something new, and that’s causing a lot of discussion about if there’s a secret plan in place — or if there’s just a plan to make a plan,” said a Florida-based GOP insider who, like many others in the story, was granted anonymity to speak candidly.

POLITICO spoke with 20 friends, lobbyists, operatives and GOP leaders about Casey DeSantis’ future, and most expect she won’t run for governor. She and Gov. DeSantis haven’t floated her name to insiders or started fundraising. Five of the people interviewed said the fact that the DeSantises have three young children was a major factor in their decision-making, and her prospects are also heavily tethered to her husband's political future. Making a successful run more difficult is that President Donald Trump has made it clear he wants GOP Rep. Byron Donalds to be the state’s next chief executive.

Yet no one close to the first lady was willing to rule out the possibility of a gubernatorial run. Speculation will likely continue until at least June 12, the official deadline to enter the race. But in interviews, it also became clear some party faithful — unlike average GOP voters — are on the fence about Donalds given the governor won’t support him, and want the DeSantises to weigh in about their succession preferences. The governor's office declined comment about the first lady's future plans.

Casey DeSantis has long generated interest in Florida politics: She’s deeply involved and visible, campaigned with her husband during his 2024 presidential bid and is generally considered much warmer and more personable than the governor. Yet the DeSantises are also famously insular. One person close to them described Casey DeSantis as a “very trusted adviser” who validates the governor’s priorities and someone who, like her husband, has a “take no prisoner attitude.”

“She’s like him in that she has an opinion on everything,” added one Florida-based GOP donor and consultant. “She’s not someone who is weak on policy or who hasn't made up their mind.”

She also played a key role in shaping the governor’s image and how he argues his positions. “He’s the brilliant policy wonk, but she helps make the argument more relatable,” explained a person in the DeSantis orbit.

To the conservative grassroots, Casey DeSantis is a “revered” figure, said Linda Trocine, GOP state committeewoman in Seminole County. The first lady, she said, “clearly had a role in strengthening Gov. DeSantis and his ability to lead this state, as an adviser, an analyst, a confidant and a partner.”

The DeSantises have shown recently they’re trying to cement their legacies during the little time they have left in Tallahassee, including by expanding Casey DeSantis’ portfolio into MAHA territory. But the public and even those close to them are likely to be kept guessing on their future ambitions. Asked how the DeSantises make decisions, one Florida-based GOP strategist said: “Fly by instinct and what they read” on social media.

The “Healthy Florida First” initiative Casey DeSantis has taken on is intended to mirror the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” push demanding more information about the food supply and vaccines. She has interviews scheduled to talk about the initiative next week with conservative commentators Tomi Lahren and Jillian Michaels, according to a person familiar with the schedule.

“MAHA” is something those close to her say has resonated with her as a mom and breast cancer survivor. It’s also helpful in rehabilitating her image after the backlash surrounding another signature initiative, Hope Florida. Casey DeSantis spearheaded the community-based social support program. But its finances received heavy scrutiny by the GOP state House during the 2025 session, and a criminal investigation ensued. While the investigation doesn’t appear to have led to any charges, the probe left Gov. DeSantis visibly emotional and damaged Casey DeSantis’ public standing.

The governor said his wife was never called to testify in the grand jury. But the episode caused some allies to wonder if he’d want to see his wife undergo a brutal primary for governor.

“It hurts when people lie about you and lie about your record,” former GOP state Rep. Joel Rudman of Navarre, a doctor who has pushed similar initiatives to the first lady, said of the state House hearings on Hope Florida. “If Casey were willing to take that fight on [to run for governor], and sacrifice for the benefit of Floridians, I would welcome that.”

Polling shows Donalds as the far away frontrunner in the race, regardless of whether Casey DeSantis enters the contest and especially when voters hear Trump endorsed him. If she were to lose, it could end her husband’s political career. GOP Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner are also running in the race.

Supporters of the couple have speculated Casey DeSantis might land on TV, since she used to be a local newscaster, or with the Department of Health and Human Services. Asked about it, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said the agency was “encouraged by efforts across the country to elevate conversations around prevention, nutrition and informed health decision-making” and welcomed “continued dialogue with state leaders on ways to promote public health and empower families with evidence-based information.”

One rumor that can likely be put to rest: that Casey DeSantis might consider running for Florida’s 2nd District to replace retiring GOP Rep. Neal Dunn. The claim was quickly dismissed by at least six people.

The couple doesn’t mind the speculation about whether she’ll run for any office, and one source even said, “She likes it” because “it recognizes hard work that she has been doing to help the governor.”

“We look at it as a compliment to leadership or ability,” said another person close to the first lady.