Why DeSantis is no match for Trump in the race for the Republican presidential nomination

Awkward and aloof, DeSantis is not seen as being tough or mean enough to take on the force of personality that is Donald Trump

In the primaries, being ready for prime time matters; DeSantis is not. And the Republican base still loves Trump

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis tosses a pen to students while signing five state bills into law after giving a press conference at Cambridge Christian School in Tampa, Florida, on May 17. Photo: Reuters

Thomas O. Falk

Thomas O. Falk is a journalist.

Published: 3:30am, 30 May 2023

Ron DeSantis announced his US presidential candidacy last week in a disastrous appearance on Twitter Spaces. To many, DeSantis represents Donald Trump’s first serious challenger for the Republican presidential nomination in seven years. But he is far more likely to meet the same fate as Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz – who all lost the nomination to Trump in 2016.

Last year could not have ended better for DeSantis when he won his re-election in November by nearly 20 percentage points, while most other Republicans underperformed in the pivotal midterms.

DeSantis had gained popularity beyond his state by keeping Florida more or less open during the Covid-19 pandemic while most other states were shut down. For a moment, he even looked like he would overtake Trump in the popularity stakes when Fox News all but declared him the chosen one, resulting in him topping polls for a hypothetical match-up with Trump.

And why not? His policies are a godsend for most conservatives. Not only has he relaxed gun laws and made it easier to impose the death penalty, he has also been the Republican Party’s most prominent culture warrior, with anti-woke actions including a ban on discussing sexual orientation in primary schools.