WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Ron DeSantis said it is too soon to announce whether he is considering another presidential campaign in 2028.
- DeSantis predicted the Democratic presidential primary would become a clown show and potentially create openings for Republicans.
- He urged Republicans to study midterm losses in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and other states.
- DeSantis, JD Vance, and Marco Rubio remain possible 2028 contenders, but none has formally entered the race.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis addressed the question hanging over his political future during a Thursday appearance on Fox News’ The Faulkner Focus. Asked about a possible 2028 presidential campaign, he offered no declaration but made clear the issue is on his mind.
“I think it’s too soon but those concerns that I mentioned are things that certainly I’m thinking about and we do have other candidates that may run,” DeSantis said when asked directly whether he was considering another bid for the White House.
The governor then shifted to the political landscape after the midterm elections. Democrats gained significant majorities in both the U.S. House and Senate, giving them considerably more power than they held before.
DeSantis predicted that Democrats would misuse that stronger position and create an opening for Republicans. His assessment of the opposition was blunt, and it came with hope that the left would move too far from voters.
“But, you know the Democrats are in a position where they have a lot more power than they did. I do think they’re going to overreach,” the governor said.
He followed that forecast with an even sharper judgment. “I do think the Democrat primary will turn into a clown show,” DeSantis said.
“We better hope it does because if they actually behave themselves it’d be more difficult for us. So hopefully they go too far left and give Republicans an opening both in Senate, House, and in presidential,” he continued.
NOW: Gov. Ron DeSantis says he expects the 2028 Democratic primary to become a CLOWN SHOW which might help Republicans win
Q: Are you thinking about 2028? DESANTIS: "I think it's too soon...we do have other candidates that may run. But the Democrats have a lot more power than they did. I think they're gonna over-reach...the primary will turn into a clown show." Possible candidates include Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, AOC, Pete Buttigieg, and other LEFTISTS who have nothing good for America! Democrats take BOTH CHAMBERS ON JANUARY 3. That's when they get the power to overreach, and it will most likely happen. — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 12, 2026
The remarks were part of a series of media appearances DeSantis has made since Election Day. During those interviews, he has focused on the disappointing midterm results for Republican candidates and the political environment facing the party.
Republicans lost ground in multiple states that have recently favored the party, including Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina. Those setbacks contrasted with the results in Florida, where Republicans retained control in key statewide contests.
DeSantis is scheduled to leave the governor’s office in January 2027 because of term limits. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is set to succeed him at that point, closing DeSantis’ current chapter in the Florida governor’s mansion.
The governor previously pursued the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. He has not given any formal indication that he intends to seek the nomination again in 2028, even as questions about his plans continue.
Earlier in November, DeSantis publicly rejected a Washington Post report claiming he had contacted a political consultant about a potential campaign. He wrote that the newspaper was “fabricating this out of whole cloth” and added, “I have not reached out to anybody about running for anything.”
In other interviews since the midterm elections, DeSantis has argued that Republicans must examine the results closely. He has not treated the party’s losses as something to wave away while attention immediately shifts toward the next presidential contest.
The war in Iran and the economic pain associated with it were cited as massive factors in midterm election exit polls. Those issues were among the areas included in DeSantis’ discussion of what Republicans need to study following their losses.
DeSantis has also warned about the governing challenge that could await any Republican capable of winning the presidency in 2028. He said that candidate would almost certainly confront a Senate controlled by Democrats, severely limiting a Republican president’s ability to govern effectively.
Political observers and election analysts continue to include DeSantis among the possible Republican contenders for 2028. They have cited Florida’s performance compared with other states, along with his record as governor.
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are also frequently mentioned as possible contenders. None of the three has formally entered the 2028 race, leaving the field unsettled while DeSantis keeps everyone guessing and predicts Democrats may provide their own clown show.
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