Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has said he is creating a "State DOGE Taskforce"

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that he isn't necessarily backing President Donald Trump’s pick to succeed him, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and acknowledged the speculation that his wife, Casey DeSantis, might enter the race next year.

Donalds has yet to formally declare his candidacy for Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race, but Trump announced on TRUTH Social last Thursday that Donalds had his "complete and total endorsement" if he decides to run. Meanwhile, DeSantis has reportedly been discussing the possibility of his wife running with key donors.

Speaking at a press conference in Tampa on Monday—where he introduced plans for Florida’s own Department of Government Efficiency—DeSantis stopped short of endorsing Donalds at this point in the race.

"Donald Trump just got into office. I want these congressmen focused on enacting his agenda," DeSantis said. "They haven’t done very much yet. They’re not putting his executive orders into place. We’ll see what they do on the spending, but we have such a narrow majority that to be trying to campaign other places and missing these votes—I think that’s not something that’s advisable at all."

RON DESANTIS: FLORIDA WAS DOGE BEFORE IT WAS COOL

DeSantis press conference
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declined to endorse Byron Donalds at this time. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

"We’ve achieved victories in Florida. We need to start achieving those victories up there. So I think people look at it and say, you know, you got a guy like Byron—he just hasn’t been a part of any of the victories that we’ve had here over these last years," DeSantis continued. "He’s just not been a part of it. He’s been in other states campaigning, doing that, and that’s fine, but OK—well, then deliver results up there. That’s what I want to see. I want to see them delivering results for the people of Florida. We deliver it here all the time for the people of Florida, and that’s what we need to be doing."

DeSantis added that he’ll be fundraising for the 2026 race and is looking for a candidate "that’s going to be able to continue and build off the success that we’ve had here in Florida."

"I think a lot of people assume the battle’s already been won and there’s nothing to worry about. But we could revert very quickly. That could happen—100%," said DeSantis, whom Trump endorsed in the 2018 gubernatorial race. "So the real question is: Are you going to be someone who fights for people, especially when it’s not easy? Have you been willing to jump into these big battles that we’ve had and won over the years? Because if you’re not willing to do that, then I think we are going to see this state revert. I wouldn’t take anything for granted."