Does Florida’s First Lady Casey DeSantis have a real shot at following in her husband’s footsteps and becoming the next governor of the state?
According to a poll released by UNF on Tuesday, the answer is yes.
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DeSantis has yet to announce any intention that she will run for governor in 2026, but rumors have been swirling for months, and only intensified following an NBC News report earlier this month that Republican donors openly discussed the prospect of DeSantis running for governor in 2026 and that she is seriously considering the idea.
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In the UNF poll, more than 800 respondents were asked about several speculative candidates for Florida ‘s 2026 gubernatorial race including former US Rep. Matt Gaetz, Florida US Senator Ashley Moody, Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and DeSantis.
Favorability was highest for DeSantis with 30% reporting a favorable opinion, and 57% among registered Republicans. Overall, 22% said they had an unfavorable opinion of her and 33% had never heard of her.
Gaetz garnered 39% reporting an unfavorable opinion, with 18% favorable and 33% never heard of him. A majority of respondents indicated they have never heard of Ashley Moody (54%), Byron Donalds (66%), and Wilton Simpson (79%). Among those who are familiar with them, respondents found Moody and Donalds more favorable than unfavorable, and Simpson was an even split of 4% in either direction.
“Casey DeSantis was the top early pick for potential Republican primary candidates when we asked back in late 2023, albeit with only 22% support,” said Dr. Binder. “She likely enjoys some favorability by association as Florida’s first lady, but most of these potential candidates suffer from a lack of recognition -- some suffering more than others. That said, I expect we’ll see a few of them become household names by the time the August 2026 primary rolls around.”
The Florida Constitution bars Gov. Ron DeSantis from seeking a third consecutive term, creating an open race for the 2026 Republican primary.
Casey DeSantis, a former television personality who worked at News4JAX and a significant figure in her husband’s political ascent, has previously dismissed the idea of her own political career.
In May, she remarked on the Conservative Review podcast, “When people talk about me running for governor, I think it speaks highly about the governor himself.”
Last year, Gov. DeSantis downplayed the notion, stating at an event in Coral Gables that his wife had “zero” interest in running.
Despite her previous denials, her potential candidacy could significantly impact Florida’s political scene.
Rep. Byron Donalds, a close ally of President Donald Trump, has expressed interest in running and a poll released in January showed that Donalds has a big advantage over other prospective candidates, though Casey DeSantis was not included in that poll.
A potential race featuring Casey DeSantis and Donalds could set the stage for a proxy battle between Trump and Gov. DeSantis, whose relationship has been strained since their 2024 presidential primary clash.