Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that Republicans had suffered losses so severe they were nearing an “extinction-level event” nationally. He pointed to Florida as the only one of the country’s 10 most populous states still governed by a Republican, as attention turns to his possible plans for 2028.
The election brought setbacks for Republicans in states long considered strongholds, including Kansas and Texas. The party did hold Senate seats in West Virginia, Wyoming and South Dakota.
“Out of the 10 largest states in this union, only one state will have Republican control of their state, the state of Florida,” DeSantis said at a news conference. He added that his administration’s record had helped earn voters’ trust and keep the state Republican even in a difficult political climate.
Doug Kaplan, an Orlando-based political strategist and pollster, said the results could give DeSantis an opening if he decides to seek the presidency in 2028. Kaplan described the governor’s remarks as an early effort to distinguish himself from the current direction of the Republican Party, while noting that former President Donald Trump’s movement remains influential among GOP primary voters.
DeSantis also pointed to Florida’s focus on affordability. Voters approved Amendment 3 with roughly 62% support. The measure raises the homestead property-tax exemption from $50,000 to $250,000 by 2028.
He argued that the amendment helped bring voters to the polls and gave Republicans an issue on which they could win decisively. Kaplan said Vice President JD Vance and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz may also emphasize their own approaches after major Republican losses in their home states. Vance’s former Senate seat, for example, went to Democrat Sherrod Brown.
DeSantis called Texas’ results a major blow to the party, saying Democratic victories in statewide races—and a possible legislative takeover—would remove an important anchor of the modern GOP. He also cited losses or close contests in Kansas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and potentially Mississippi.
In Mississippi, Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith was trailing Democratic state district judge Scott Colom by about one-tenth of a percentage point. DeSantis said a Democratic win there would give the party 56 Senate seats.
Former Miami Mayor Francis Suarez credited DeSantis’ work to expand Florida’s Republican voter-registration advantage with helping the state avoid the losses seen elsewhere. Suarez also said Republicans should sharpen their messaging and recruit younger candidates who can communicate effectively.
DeSantis has also suggested that voters may support conservative policies on ballot measures while rejecting Republican candidates, pointing to a possible gap between the party’s agenda and its appeal at the ballot box.
Former Senate adviser Mary Marslender said DeSantis was highlighting his record on tax relief, public safety and election results, rather than necessarily distancing himself from Trump or the MAGA movement. She expects him to continue emphasizing Florida’s approach to governing as 2028 draws closer.
Former Republican National Committee spokesperson Elizabeth Pipko said the timing of DeSantis’ remarks was notable, given the party’s need to reckon with its election losses. She said it remains to be seen whether he and Trump will work together in some way before the next presidential race.
DeSantis is due to leave office in January after his unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign. Whether Florida’s results remain a state-level success story or help him build a larger national role is still an open question.
