As the 2026 race to succeed Ron DeSantis as Florida governor heats up, with Byron Donalds announced and Casey DeSantis mulling a bid, President Trump plays golf with the Sunshine State's first couple

Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, the wife of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), hinted at a gubernatorial run in 2026. Rep. Bryon Donalds (R-FL), whom President Donald Trump endorsed, already entered the race to be the Republican nominee in the state’s 2026 gubernatorial election.

As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis approaches the end of his second term in office, he's talking up one potential heir to succeed him in 2026: his wife, Casey DeSantis. And he's taking a shot at President Donald Trump 's pick to be the next governor.

“⁦ Casey DeSantis teeing off at Trump Int’l in Palm Beach (made birdie on the hole). Casey and (Trump)⁩ had no trouble winning the match,” dished Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday. Presumably, the candid golf shot of the potential candidate and the President was snapped Saturday, the same day the trio had breakfast together.

DeSantis can’t run again in 2026 because of term limits, and he has raised the idea of his wife, Casey, running for office. But the president has other plans, creating another point of contention between the two former rivals.

After President Donald Trump endorsed Congressman Byron Donalds for Florida governor, Ron DeSantis leveled criticisms at the president’s choice, and championed someone else: his wife, Casey

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declined to support a potential gubernatorial bid by Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, whom President Donald Trump recently endorsed.

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds has not been a “part of any of the victories” for Republicans in Florida, DeSantis said.

It’s not hard to find parallels between DeSantis and Donalds at this stage in their careers. Pre-Trump endorsement, both men were relatively unknown third-term U.S. representatives. Like DeSantis in 2018, Donalds won Trump’s endorsement by emerging as one of his most vocal surrogates in the media.

DeSantis pitched his wife as his potential successor, bucking Trump’s enthusiastic backing of Rep. Byron Donalds for governor.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is not on board with President Donald Trump’s pick to be the next Florida governor. But it sounds like he wouldn’t mind seeing his wife in the post. Last week, Trump endorsed U.S. Rep.