Overview

• DeSantis's once-dominant grip on Florida's legislature has fractured, with Republican lawmakers openly dissenting and investigating his administration's actions.
• A $10 million legal settlement rerouted through Casey DeSantis’s nonprofit, Hope Florida, is under legislative scrutiny for potential misuse of taxpayer funds.
• DeSantis’s pathway to a U.S. Senate seat is blocked after appointing ally Ashley Moody, who plans to defend the seat in 2026, leaving him without a clear political future.
• Nationally, DeSantis has been eclipsed by GOP figures like JD Vance and Marco Rubio, both named by Trump as potential successors, while DeSantis was notably excluded.
• Florida Republicans are rallying behind Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds for governor, a move seen as preempting Casey DeSantis’s potential candidacy.