Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is positioning himself for a 2028 presidential campaign while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed reports he is considering a White House bid, as Republicans reassess the party's presidential landscape following midterm election losses. The maneuvering by both Florida Republicans underscores volatility in the early stages of the 2028 primary, where Vice President Vance had been viewed as a likely frontrunner before Tuesday's election results.
DeSantis, whose term as governor ends in January, has fueled speculation through a postelection media campaign that included appearances on podcasts and CNN. Asked whether he plans to run for president, DeSantis declined to answer directly but said the midterm results should serve as a warning to Republicans. "We really got blasted into oblivion, and Florida is kind of the last one standing," he said, emphasizing that Florida was the only red-wall state to withstand the national Democratic gains. He said he has not made plans because "this is a very uncertain time."
Rubio, who serves in the Trump administration until January 2029, has repeatedly said he will not run for president and would not challenge Vance. During the White House election watch party Tuesday, supporters urged Rubio to reconsider running, according to a source familiar with the scene, with some arguing he could restore Republican standing with Latino voters. Two days later, published reports suggested Rubio was actively considering resigning to pursue a presidential campaign. Rubio denied the reports to the New York Times, and longtime associates told Axios the reporting was false.
Both DeSantis and Rubio previously ran for president, in 2024 and 2016 respectively, giving them national profiles. Some Republican donors have indicated they would support DeSantis in 2028, and at least one supporter has told Vance he should not run, according to the Wall Street Journal.