If he were to run for President at the age of Presidents Biden and Trump, DeSantis could conceivably be on the ballot in 2060 at that age of 80.
If you think a late-life comeback is not an option, think Biden – who first ran for President in 1988 – 36 years ago. He made another attempt in 2008. However, he was able to do that because he remained a national figure as a senator and a Vice President. If DeSantis is to be a viable candidate in the future there are three things he needs – a national platform (meaning a place to stand), a platform (meaning a number of issues to which he can be identified) and a political strategy.
National Platform
In terms of a platform, where does DeSantis go next? He will end his second term as governor in 2026 – and he cannot be reelected because Florida has term limits.
DeSantis cannot shift to the Senate, as did former Republican Governor and now-Senator Rick Scott. Scott is likely to be reelected in 2024, which means that seat will not open up before 2030 – if even then. Republican Senator Marco Rubio holds the other seat. He does not face reelection until 2028 – and he is young enough to serve several more terms.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, DeSantis has no chance at a Senate seat UNLESS … he moves to another state. That seems unlikely, but not unheard of. Bobby Kennedy left the ancestral home in Massachusetts to become the Senator from New York. Hillary Clinton also moved into New York to take the Senate seat. Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney moved to Utah to become a Senator – after losing a presidential election.
To do that, DeSantis would have to pull up stakes fairly quickly. And to which ruby red state would he go? Someplace like South Dakota or closer to home like one of the Carolinas? Any number of options.
DeSantis could always go back to the House, where he served three terms as congressman. That could be seen as a step down, but it would keep him in the national spotlight. He would most assuredly be one of the most prominent members of the House. Stepping down has been done before. John Adams returned to the House after serving as President – but it was more post-retirement rather than a future stepping stone.
There is always the possibility of a Cabinet position if President Trump wins reelection – with a shot at the 2028 GOP nomination. As long as he does not get churned up in the vortex that surrounds Trump.
Issue Platform
Part of DeSantis’ problem is finding HIS issues. He has two challenges; (1) clearly establish his policy positions for the future and (2) addressing the issues that brought down his presidential campaign.
DeSantis needs to be the spokesperson for a small number of issues that he wants to push – as opposed to being someone you merely respond to whatever issues pop up – or whatever he is asked about. One of his problems in the recent presidential campaign was as seeming eclectic array of issues. He also took up issues he would have been better to leave alone.
If I were advising DeSantis, I would suggest he stick to foundational conservative people-oriented issues – such as school choice, tax reform, cheap energy, credit reform. He should campaign for a strong military and American world leadership.
Political Strategy
Keep in mind that DeSantis won the most impressive election victory in 2022. It was the biggest victory of any governor in America. In terms of Florida, DeSantis moves the partisan needle to the GOP with unprecedented victories in such Democrat strongholds as Broward and Palm Beach counties. His coattails produced a sweep of statewide offices and brought in a lot of down ticket Republican candidates.
DeSantis entered the presidential race very strong – and quickly raised lots of money. He initially garnered more than 20 percent of the potential vote. Not bad for a guy lacking a national reputation. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the highpoint of his campaign. He was pretty much written off by the electorate long before he finally folded his tent.
His downfall was due primarily to two miscalculations. He embraced the wrong strategy to run against Trump and he took up some fights he should not have – and he compounded his problem by handling them badly. With both Disney and the school boards, he was right on the fundamental issues, but wrong in how he managed them.
The most common criticism of DeSantis was that he was not ready for primetime. And that is as good an explanation for his failure to gain ground as anything.
Arguably, DeSantis’ major strategic error was in dealing with Trump. He seemed unwilling to criticize Trump at the onset – under a belief that he needed and could get some of Trump’s MAGA base. What he never did was make the essential difference between him and Trump. Being Trump-lite was a mistake. Votes are inclined to stick with the real thing rather than switch to a person almost like their favorite candidate.
DeSantis needed to give voters a compelling reason – a distinction – why they should vote for him over Trump. He did not have to go after Trump like a rabid Pitbull, but he did have to convince voters that nominating him – and later electing him President – was a better option than Trump. DeSantis never made that case.
DeSantis could also do a little work on his communication skills. He is not bad, but he is not great, either. A little platform and media training would help. He – like a lot of Republicans these days – needs to learn how to communicate effectively – both in style and content.
Most of the issues and mistakes that took the wind out of his political sail will be forgiven – and more likely forgotten – in the future. He has every opportunity to burnish his image. Public communication is a discipline – and not the same as shooting off your mouth in bar after a couple drinks.
Although not his last, DeSantis’ next best opportunity to run for President is in 2028. That is more than enough time to recast himself. His immediate question is how he remains in the public – backburner, perhaps, but on the range.
DeSantis can use a bit of a hiatus to plan his comeback — the new and improved DeSantis. Unlike Nixon’s premature claim after his defeat in the California gubernatorial race in 1962 that there would be no Nixon to kick around in the future, DeSantis will be around if he can find his political footing. He just needs to rise to the level of his potential.
So, there ‘tis.