Something unusual is going on between Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans

As the GOP front-runner for Florida governor, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds should expect the slings and arrows from his rivals.

Sure enough, they unleashed a torrent of criticism at Donalds for his campaign's decision not to debate them.

But what about the man who currently occupies the Governor's Mansion? Why did Gov. Ron DeSantis insert himself into the dispute when he's about to leave the office after eight years?

Last week, DeSantis criticized the Republican Party of Florida's decision to disqualify any candidate from a GOP debate who doesn't raise more than $10 million.

Such a threshold, which Donalds and no one else meets, was "counterproductive," said DeSantis.

DeSantis, who was helped by President Donald Trump's endorsement when he ran for governor in 2018, did debate his primary opponent that year, Adam Putnam. But he did so in what was regarded as a more competitive race.

In this year's primary, DeSantis' aloofness has placed state Republicans at an awkward crossroads. While Democrats have pretty much moved on to the general election campaign, Republicans are stuck between past and future. The man with the reins of power isn't handing them over to the candidate who, by most conventional metrics, is the presumptive nominee, drawing out an intraparty conflict that's extending well past its expiration date.

DeSantis made it clear last year that he wasn't supporting Donalds, who had just nabbed his own Trump endorsement. DeSantis declared that the congressman "hasn't been a part of any of the victories that we've had here over the left these last years."

Back then, it was easy to write off the snub because of speculation that DeSantis' wife, Casey DeSantis, was going to run for governor herself. But the qualifying deadline came and went last week and she won't be on the ballot.

DeSantis has endorsed in all the Cabinet races, giving the nod to Wilton Simpson for commissioner of agriculture; James Uthmeier for attorney general; and Blaise Ingoglia for chief financial officer.

So why hasn't DeSantis endorsed a possible successor yet? His office didn't respond to requests for comment.

He's got lots of candidates to choose from. He worked closely with Paul Renner when Renner served as Florida House Speaker from 2022 to 2024. But last year, he called Renner's announced run "ill-advised." DeSantis tapped Jay Collins as his lieutenant governor in August, but no follow-upendorsement for governor came. "Stand by," DeSantis told reporters whenasked about Collins in April.

Another one of Donalds' rivals, investor James Fishback, says he's never met or spoken with DeSantis. But as Fishback launched his long-shot campaign last year, he consulted with one of DeSantis' top advisers, Christina Pushaw, suggesting he has strong ties to the governor's orbit.

While Fishback is placing a distant second in most statewide polls, he's viewed as a pariah by the party establishment for his incendiary use of racist and antisemitic language and tropes.

That put him at odds last week with the Republican Party of Florida, which banned Fishback from attending the GOP's Sunshine State Showdown summit on June 27 at the Hard Rock & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Fishback said he'll be throwing his own rally that will outdraw the summit.

But how divided is the party? Fishbackmay not be the only one in absentia at the GOP summit.DeSantisis so far missing from the guest list.

Several Republicans who spoke to the Tampa Bay Times said they suspect DeSantis is refraining from endorsing Donalds because Donalds endorsed Trumpfor president. At the time, DeSantis hadn't formally announced but was widely expected to announce a run himself. (DeSantis did later run for president but dropped out after placing a distant second in theIowa caucuses.)

Others say that DeSantis, known for keeping a tight circle of confidants, didn't make many friends while unapologetically wielding the power of his office in line-item vetoes, executive orders and unfunded mandates. He's reluctant to let go of the power that shielded him from engaging with those he crossed.

With two weeks to go before he needs to sign the budget, that power is rapidly diminishing.

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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 4:16 PM.