With Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis facing term limits, speculation has been growing about a political future for his wife, Casey DeSantis.
Republican donors reportedly discussed the idea of the Sunshine State’s first lady running for governor herself, according to NBC News which noted that the mother of three is “seriously considering the idea.”
“There has long been speculation about whether Casey, a mainstay on the campaign trail for her husband, would herself one day run for office, but those plans seem to be coming closer to reality, five people directly familiar with the donor event and Casey DeSantis’ thought process told NBC News,” the outlet reported.
“She’s going to run,” one source “familiar with Casey DeSantis’ thinking” told NBC News.
“I think at this point most see that,” they said. “There is a lot to be worked out, but at this point the rumors are not just that — it’s feeling very real.”
Another source noted that the Republican governor and former presidential candidate sees his wife’s running “as his best opportunity to set the future leadership for the state and prevent a Simpson or Donalds governorship,” referring to Rep. Byron Donalds and state Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “That’s what finally opened him up to a Casey run.”
Casey DeSantis had addressed previous conjecture about a run for the state’s top job.
“I will tell you this, when people talk about me running for governor, I think it speaks highly about the governor himself,” she said last year on the “Conservative Review” podcast. “I think when people see me, it is because they are so happy about everything that this governor has done for the state of Florida.
“When people start talking about ‘Oh, you know, you should run,’ that’s because Gov. DeSantis is a rock star and that’s because people are so proud of everything that he’s done for this state,” she added.
One source told NBC News, “I would say this: I have heard donors have been urging her to run and that while it’s not something she has wanted to do, they are causing her to at least stop and listen.”
