Not too long ago, Ron DeSantis appeared poised to emerge as the next-generation successor to former President Donald Trump.
Following a disappointing Midterm election in the fall of 2022, Republicans more and more attributed blame to Trump and wearied of his antics and a series of defeats, including the loss of the White House in 2020.
DeSantis presented himself as a younger, more agile version of Trump. A conservative populist like Trump, he secured a landslide reelection as Florida Governor, even in a state known for its strong Democratic presence. His attractive family, reminiscent of Kennedy glamour, added to his appeal. The party seemed ready to move on from Trump, especially as the former president announced his ’24 candidacy already in the fall of ’22, with DeSantis suddenly leading in the polls.
However, a significant shift occurred. What led to DeSantis’s historic 21% to 51% defeat in Iowa, when he was not long ago considered Trump’s potential successor?
DeSantis had both money and momentum, but his campaign turned into a political train wreck. The launch on Elon Musk’s Twitter (today X) experienced glitches, and his subsequent political maneuvers resembled strategic malpractice. With a bloated campaign, DeSantis spent millions from donors and had to reshuffle his team.
The most substantial challenge was DeSantis’s failure to win over Trump’s loyal MAGA base. They viewed him as a potential future candidate or a backup plan under Trump, rather than a direct competitor. Most Trump supporters insisted that it was still Trump’s turn, and DeSantis, being younger, could wait. DeSantis avoided directly criticizing Trump, fearing backlash from his base, leaving no clear contrast and making it a political mission impossible to defeat an opponent without challenging him.
The final fatal mistake came when DeSantis invested heavily in the Iowa Caucus, touring all 99 counties amid discussions about his cowboy boots and height inserts. With the defeat, he lost his political capital, and the party took notice. Republican political strategist Sarah Longwell stated that support for DeSantis is dwindling to the extent that conservative focus groups no longer mention his name.
DeSantis remains on the campaign trail for now, but future defeats at the ballot box and a potential drying up of donor funds might force him out. And the ship has sailed also for the second-best job as Trump’s number two, as Trump has not forgiven the perceived “betrayal” by his former political ally.
