GOP’s Election Defeat Opens Door for DeSantis
14th November 2026
Republicans’ dismal showing in 2026 has made their 2028 presidential primary much more interesting.
It has long seemed likely the 2028 GOP presidential nomination would be decided by President Donald Trump. He has dominated Republican Party politics for a decade. The GOP base adores him for bucking the amnesty-pushing GOP establishment and numerous accomplishments.
This seemed to suggest that Trump would endorse a presidential candidate, putting him or her on a glide path to the nomination. The most likely candidate was Vice President JD Vance. His position made him the obvious successor. He’s extremely intelligent and well-spoken. Like Trump, he doesn’t strictly adhere to GOP orthodoxy.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also distinguished himself. He served as acting director of the U.S. Agency for International Development and slashed its wasteful grants. He’s helped move key Western Hemisphere allies, like Panama and Mexico, away from China. In October, he stood in front of the Acropolis in Athens and delivered a stirring defense of Western civilization and its values.
…
Democrats haven’t been shy about their desire to reshape American institutions to cement their grip on power. If Democrats win the presidency in 2028 and retain their congressional majorities, they are likely to pack the Supreme Court and add two left-leaning states to cement their Senate majorities. Their idea of defending democracy is changing the rules to ensure they never lose power.
This has created an opening for other candidates. Outgoing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tops that list. He’s been America’s best governor for the last eight years. He passed massive tax cuts and reduced state debt. He signed a ban on gender-mutilation surgeries for minors and protected parental rights. Florida’s economy has boomed, along with its population.
DeSantis transformed Florida from the country’s most important swing state into a deep-red bastion. It showed Tuesday. Florida elected a new Republican governor, and Republican candidates did well in down-ballot races.
Indeed. I would have said that the choice would be between Vance and Rubio and I would be good for either one. Vance surprised me by his performance despite minimal prior government service and Rubio has delighted me with the way he stepped up to the plate and did a lot of the heavy lifting. With the result of the recent election, I’m thinking that Republicans might do better with an experienced executive like DeSantis at the top of the ticket, perhaps with Rubio as his #2. In any event, it will get Very Interesting.