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Ron DeSantis is the future of the Republican Party. In any case, this was the conclusion reached half a year ago: With an outstanding victory, the 44-year-old was re-elected governor in Florida. A triumph in a state that for many years was considered particularly contested between Democrats and Republicans – and a ray of hope on an election day that became a disappointment for Republicans overall.
In particular, candidates who were supported by Donald Trump left. With Trump, it seemed, the Republicans could no longer win. The former president looked weak.
DeSantis seemed the obvious and much younger alternative: a “Trump without drama,” a governor who knows how to attract national attention. It was only a matter of time before DeSantis, who became governor in 2018 with Trump’s backing, would come out of cover and announce his presidential candidacy.
Bad start to the campaign
But six months is a long time in US politics. Today we know that the Republican base appears to be loyal to Donald Trump. In polls, he clearly leads the field of Republican presidential candidates.
DeSantis remains his most dangerous opponent – but some say his candidacy fell through before it even began. The fact that the hyped announcement was delayed due to technical problems gave the impression of an amateurish start to the election campaign.
Critics also say that DeSantis doesn’t understand “retail politics”, i.e. direct contact with voters. He couldn’t keep up with Trump’s charisma. DeSantis will have to brace himself for fierce attacks from Trump. It is unclear how DeSantis will fare in the Republican primary campaign against Trump, who hardly anyone can match in the political battle.
DeSantis’ Crusade Against Wokeism
At least one can guess which topics DeSantis will focus on: During the Covid pandemic, he opposed the “biomedical security state” with its lockdowns and vaccination cards, DeSantis writes in a new book. During the pandemic, Florida has become the bastion of freedom and reason and the blueprint for the whole country.
DeSantis is also fully committed to the culture war that is being fought in the United States: In some schools in Florida, he banned teaching about sexual orientation, and by law he has restricted which books are allowed in school libraries. DeSantis is leading a kind of crusade against “Wokeism”, the left-wing indoctrination that he believes to recognize in many places. When Disney criticized one of those laws, DeSantis started a dispute with one of Florida’s largest employers.
That may excite the Republican base. But it is questionable whether a presidential election can be won with it. According to the polls, DeSantis is far behind Donald Trump. But his election campaign is still in its infancy. The first primary elections are not due for well over half a year. And that’s a long time in US politics.