Ron DeSantis Could Take Top Republican's Job: Ex-GOP Lawmaker

With his presidential ambitions in the rearview for the time being, one former Florida lawmaker has suggested that Ron DeSantis's "vanity" could push him to pursue a different office sooner rather than later.

DeSantis, who has served as the Republican governor of Florida since 2019, dropped out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination on Sunday afternoon. This came nearly a week after his disappointing 21 percent finish in the Iowa caucus, putting him in a distant second place to former President Donald Trump, and a few days before the New Hampshire primary, where some polls projected that he might finish in third behind Trump and Nikki Haley.

DeSantis will now return to the governor's office in Florida, which he will be required to depart in 2027, as the state's constitution limits governors to two consecutive terms at a time. Appearing on MSNBC Sunday evening, David Jolly, a former Republican congressman from Florida, suggested a more immediate political pursuit for the governor, as opposed to seeking the presidency again in 2028: running for the U.S. Senate, which would see him going up against Rick Scott, one of the most prominent Republicans in the chamber.

"But can he wait two years and run in 28? I don't think so," Jolly said. "Ask Mike Huckabee and Jeb Bush how that turned out after they left the governor's mansion. I think his spouse, Casey, could end up with a Fox show and start to outshine Ron. But the wildcard is this: he could come home and primary Rick Scott this year for the U.S. Senate race, and he would beat Rick Scott."

Scott, who also served as the governor of Florida from 2011 to 2019, is the current junior senator for the Sunshine State. He also served as the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee from 2021 to 2023, through which he helped support incumbent GOP senators seeking reelection and new candidates looking for primary success. He is currently seeking reelection in the 2024 election cycle.

DeSantis himself has not commented on any future political aspirations beyond continuing his second term as governor. Newsweek reached out to his office and Scott's via email for comment on Monday morning.

Speaking further, Jolly suggested that a personal dislike of Scott could further fuel DeSantis to pursue a Senate bid.

"The animosity is real," Jolly added. "Consider Marco Rubio and Rick Scott endorsed Donald Trump over Ron DeSantis. I imagine Ron is so fatigued from the presidential trail that they won't do that. But vanity is a powerful drug. He has until May or June to qualify for the U.S. Senate race. Maybe he pulls the trigger..."

Michael Steele, the former chair of the Republican National Committee who was also appearing on MSNBC for the same segment, noted that a successful Senate bid could set him up better for another presidential bid in 2028 rather than remaining governor.

In a statement to Newsweek, Scott's office dismissed the possibility, specifically accusing Jolly of lacking any knowledge of the situation.

"Of all the hilarious statements and implications in this story, the funniest is the idea that David Jolly has any clue what he's talking about," a spokesperson for Scott said.

Update 1/24/24, 1:44 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with a statement from Rick Scott's office.