DeSantis's Political Power Under Threat as he Returns to Florida for State of the State Speech
Florida Gov Ron DeSantis heads back to his state for the State of the State speech, highlighting his accomplishments and laying out his vision for the future As Iowa caucus approaches, DeSantis aims to secure his political standing amidst a turbulent political landscape
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is set to deliver his annual State of the State speech on Tuesday, before heading to Iowa where he hopes to gain momentum as a presidential candidate. DeSantis will be joined by dozens of Republican lawmakers, his lieutenant governor, education commissioner, and the state's attorney general to campaign on his behalf and share his political victories in Florida.
In Tallahassee, the Florida capital that played a key role in DeSantis' presidential aspirations, confidence in his chances of securing the nomination is diminishing. There is a growing sense that the governor may have to make an early exit from the race. "Everyone in Tallahassee believes that Iowa will be the downfall and that New Hampshire will deliver the final blow," remarked a veteran Republican operative and lobbyist in the city.
The mood has drastically shifted from a year ago when DeSantis was riding high after a successful reelection, but now he is focused on the upcoming presidential campaign and has been mostly silent on the legislative session. It remains to be seen how involved he will be with state lawmakers, as he is currently more concerned with his standing in the Republican primary.
Speaking with Iowa reporters from Tallahassee on Monday, DeSantis stated that he is campaigning on the accomplishments as Florida governor achieved last year, but also acknowledged that "theres always more to do."
DeSantis also commented, "Theres no way that youre ever going to be able to match the legislative session that we did in 2023. There was just so much stuff that was done on every issue under the sun. No ones ever seen anything like it."
Former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Scott Eisen, Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Trump pushes supporters for a definitive win in Iowa caucuses as DeSantis and Haley aim to dent his dominance
DeSantis is confident that his strong presence in Iowa, where Republicans value candidates who put in the effort to travel the state, will work in his favor. The current blizzard and upcoming arctic blast further highlight the unpredictable nature of caucuses, just in time for Iowans to head to their precincts on Monday night.
As the governor prepares for his speech back in Florida on Monday, his wife, Casey, is campaigning in Iowa on his behalf. He will return to Iowa on Wednesday for CNN's debate with Haley.
DeSantis has dodged questions about his future prospects if he doesn't perform well in Iowa, suggesting he plans to oversee Florida's legislative work from a distance. He has yet to comment on several controversial bills filed by Florida Republicans, including ones that address child labor laws, Confederate monuments, mail-in voting, and LGBTQ Pride flags at government buildings.
"We're committed for the long term," DeSantis said in an interview with NBC and the Des Moines Register last week. "No need to worry about that."
However, in Tallahassee, both his political supporters and opponents are already speculating about how a potentially unsuccessful DeSantis may lead with the goal of preserving his reputation as governor and preparing for future political endeavors within the Republican Party.
"It’s difficult to predict until we see the results of 2024," remarked a Republican fundraiser for DeSantis. "What will the landscape look like after Trump’s victory or defeat?"
State Rep. Randy Fine, a Republican legislator who switched allegiance from DeSantis to Trump last year, remarked that those who opposed the governor are expecting retaliation. "He spent five years preparing to run for president and I'm not sure if he will know what to do next," Fine said. "One option is to seek retribution against those he feels have betrayed him, while the other is to reflect on what went wrong and attempt to rebuild."
After Fine - the sole Jewish Republican elected to the state Legislature - was excluded from the state's yearly Hanukkah event, he is skeptical about DeSantis following the second path. At present, Fine is presenting a budget funding request for just one of his objectives: increased security for Jewish schools.
From left, Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis campaign in Iowa.
AP/Getty Images
GOP contenders spend a hectic weekend in Iowa as caucuses draw near
"Good luck vetoing that," he said.
Despite DeSantis's position and his future approach to governance, the executive branch still holds significant power, which is why many Republicans, consultants, and lobbyists are hesitant to publicly criticize the governor or make assumptions about the outcome of a primary led by the 77-year-old former president, who has divided GOP voters and is facing legal challenges. However, many others, including numerous lawmakers who supported DeSantis over Trump, remain aligned with him ideologically and believe he will continue to play a vital role in passing a conservative agenda.
State Rep. Alex Andrade, who is supporting DeSantis for president, expressed skepticism about the perceived level of subservience within one independent branch of government during last year's presidential election discussions. "I never viewed us as a rubber stamp," Andrade stated.
However, the question remains whether DeSantis can maintain his influence over lawmakers as he has in the past. During the past few years, DeSantis has called multiple special sessions to address his political priorities, such as his conflicts with Disney and local and federal governments over Covid-19. Regardless of the outcome of his presidential campaign, DeSantis is facing term limits and will be a lame duck governor.
"Last year was undeniably the peak of his influence, with many believing he was the obvious successor and positioning themselves for a role in his potential administration," said a Republican operative and lobbyist. "Now, they see an opportunity to take advantage of his potential downfall."
If he fails to secure the nomination, Florida Democrats, despite having minimal influence in government, are eager to highlight the consequences of their Republican colleagues' support for DeSantis.
State Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat from Miami, criticized the campaign's tactics, stating, "Sadly, all of this was achieved at the cost of human lives - specifically, the lives of Black people, immigrants, and members of the LGBTQ community. You've squandered everyone's time, including your own."
