DeSantis Denies Contacting Advisers About 2028 Bid

Ron DeSantis rejected an allegation on Friday, November 6, that he had started sounding out political consultants for another run for president. In a post on X, the Florida governor said he had contacted no one about seeking office and accused The Washington Post of making up the claim.

The allegation said DeSantis had spoken with at least one national political consultant about a possible campaign. A federal super PAC associated with him also sent a fundraising text earlier in the week. DeSantis disputed the account in replies to social media users, including one who hoped it was accurate. He answered, “I’m sorry to disappoint.”

Talk about his political plans comes as DeSantis prepares to leave office in January. He is barred by term limits from seeking another gubernatorial term after 2026 and previously pursued the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. He ended that campaign once the Iowa caucuses had concluded, backing Donald Trump.

The discussion follows major Republican losses in the midterm elections, including the party’s defeat in Congress’s two houses and in multiple longtime Republican strongholds. Florida was an exception: Republican Byron Donalds won the governor’s race. DeSantis described the national results as “close to an extinction-level event for Republicans,” saying Florida would be the only one of the 10 most populous states with Republican control of its government.

DeSantis has not ruled out making another presidential bid. He denied that he had begun preparing one.

DeSantis Rejects 2028 Talk as Republicans Face Election Fallout

The dispute over Ron DeSantis’s future comes amid a sobering election result for Republicans: they lost control of Congress’s two houses and a number of long-held Republican strongholds. The Florida governor, who has previously kept open the possibility of another White House campaign, denied on Friday that he had begun contacting political consultants about a 2028 run.

DeSantis accused The Washington Post of fabricating the allegation. It said he had approached a prominent political adviser about taking part in a potential campaign. A federal super PAC linked to him also sent a fundraising text earlier in the week. DeSantis pushed back in social media exchanges, telling one user who hoped the claim was true, “I’m sorry to disappoint.”

Florida offered Republicans a rare bright spot: Byron Donalds won the governor’s race. DeSantis said the national losses amounted to “close to an extinction-level event for Republicans” and warned that Florida would be the only one of the 10 most populous states with Republican control of its government.

DeSantis is set to leave office in January and cannot seek another gubernatorial term after 2026. His 2024 presidential campaign ended once the Iowa caucuses were over, and he backed Donald Trump. The 2028 speculation now unfolds against a national election setback that has sharpened questions about the party’s political direction.

DeSantis Denies 2028 Bid Speculation as GOP Reels From Losses

Ron DeSantis has not announced a 2028 presidential run, and on Friday he said he had not even contacted anyone about running for office. The Florida governor accused The Washington Post of inventing claims that he had begun consulting political operatives.

The allegation described contact with at least one national political consultant about a possible campaign. A fundraising text was also sent earlier in the week by a federal super PAC supporting DeSantis. DeSantis rejected the claims in online exchanges, telling one user who wanted them to be true, “I’m sorry to disappoint.”

The speculation follows a difficult midterm for Republicans, who lost seats in Congress’s two houses and suffered defeats in several longtime Republican strongholds. Florida stood apart: Republican Byron Donalds won the governor’s race. DeSantis called the broader losses “close to an extinction-level event for Republicans” and said Florida would be the only one of the nation’s 10 most populous states with Republican control of its government.

DeSantis is due to leave office in January and is term-limited after 2026. He previously sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, then suspended his campaign when the Iowa caucuses ended and backed Donald Trump. He has left open the prospect of another run, but firmly rejects the claim that he has started making preparations.