Politics

Home Politics

Lara Trump Teases ‘Many’ Trumps May Run For Office

0
Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Fox News host Lara Trump suggested on Tuesday that “many” members of the Trump family could eventually pursue political office, hinting that the political ambitions of President Donald Trump’s relatives may extend beyond his own career. Her comments came during an appearance on Miranda Devine’s Pod Force One podcast.

Reflecting on her father-in-law’s influence, Lara Trump said, “I have looked at my father-in-law over the past eleven, almost twelve years now, and I’ve watched the impact that he’s been able to make in people’s lives and it’s amazing. Look, he’s dealt with hell, right? He has gone through so much.” She added that watching Trump’s persistence has inspired “everyone in our family” and left open the possibility that more Trumps could enter electoral politics:

“…I’d consider running for a possible Senate seat. So I would never say never to anything. What I do feel like, and whether it’s for Donald Trump running… or a Senate run, or whatever it might be for me or I think anyone in our family, I think the timing has to be right…”

Lara Trump noted that timing thwarted her own past efforts, pointing to earlier years when a run “didn’t work out” — a reference to when she considered but ultimately declined Senate bids in 2022 and again in 2025.

Turning to the question of broader family ambitions, she said, “we’ve all kind of dipped our toe in the water of politics enough to know that it’s something that I think possibly interests many of us in our family…” before acknowledging that Democrats “would love to hear that it may not end just with Donald Trump.”

When asked whether former President Trump encourages potential family runs, Lara Trump replied that he has been “absolutely a champion” of her own political endeavors, calling her regularly with names of supporters urging her to run. She added that Trump “certainly would have their backs” if any of the family chose to seek office.

Devine closed the discussion by musing that the future might bring a “President Trump of the new generation,” perhaps from among “all three” of Trump’s children or close relatives.

Context: Past Speculation About Trump Family Political Runs

Lara Trump’s comments tap into ongoing speculation that the Trump family might try to extend its influence beyond Donald Trump’s own career:

• Lara Trump and the North Carolina Senate:
Before deciding not to run, Lara Trump was widely viewed as a potential Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina after Senator Thom Tillis announced his retirement, drawing substantial interest from GOP leaders and national strategists. Georgia Republicans had even paused their own campaigns pending her decision. However, she ultimately chose not to enter the race, and former RNC Chair Michael Whatley has since picked up key endorsements from Donald Trump and Lara for the seat.

• Other Trump family members:
There has also been public conversation about other Trump relatives entering politics. Eric Trump, the president’s second son, spoke in mid-2025 about the possibility that he — or other family members — could seek public office in the future, suggesting a “Trump political dynasty” might emerge beyond Donald Trump’s own presidency. Eric said a political career for the family “would be an easy one” if the relatives were willing to commit, though no formal campaigns have been launched.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. has maintained a high public profile through media and podcasting, and Ivanka Trump served as a senior adviser during her father’s earlier presidency, though she has since stepped back from active politics. Other younger family members, like Tiffany Trump and Barron Trump, have been less involved publicly, and there is no indication they have declared political intentions

Winner Projected In Wisconsin Supreme Court Race In Blow To Trump

0

The high-stakes Wisconsin Supreme Court race shaped up to be competitive as predicted, with control of the court—and potentially the future of election law, redistricting and abortion access in the battleground state—hanging in the balance.

However, the end result saw Susan Crawford, a liberal-leaning Dane County Circuit Court Judge, defeat Brad Schimel, a conservative Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge, preserving the court’s 4-3 liberal majority until at least 2028.

As The Hill reports, Tuesday night’s outcome comes as a blow to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk:

The election offered the first big test for both parties since the November elections and came after record-breaking amounts of money poured into the race. In particular, the race was seen as a test of Musk’s political sway, as his super PAC, America PAC, alone spent more than $12 million to support Schimel. He also traveled to Wisconsin the Sunday before the election, where he handed out $1 million checks to voters who had signed his petition against “activist judges.”

Musk’s involvement sparked controversy, with Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul unsuccessfully suing to block his actions as potential vote-buying.

Musk’s unpopularity may have played a role in the election, though it’s not the sole factor in Crawford’s victory. Economic uncertainty, a declining stock market and sweeping cuts to government programs with little congressional oversight seems to have motivated Democrats and independents.

Trump also waded into the race, repeatedly urging voters to go to the polls and support Schimel.

The race will also be a bitter disappointment for Wisconsin Republicans, who lost a chance to keep their conservative majority after Justice Janet Protasiewicz defeated conservative candidate Dan Kelly in 2023.

This year’s race, which shattered the 2023 race’s fundraising records by tens of millions of dollars, received outsized national attention not just because it determined the partisan tilt of the court, but also because it comes less than three months into Trump’s second term as president, making it the first critical referendum on the president.

Turnout was significant in key battleground counties, with Schimel performing worse than Trump in urban, suburban and rural areas.

According to projections from Decision Desk HQ, Crawford is expected to receive 54.5% of the vote, while Schimel is projected at 45.6%, giving Crawford a decisive 8.9-point margin of victory.

For context, Trump won Wisconsin in the 2024 presidential election by approximately 0.9%.

With national implications in a perennial swing state that will help decide control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, all eyes will remain on the Badger State as next year’s election cycle gets underway.

Trump Issues Early Midterm Endorsement – Before Candidate Even Files To Run

0
Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

President Donald Trump is throwing his weight behind a potential new Republican candidate in Florida, publicly urging Sydney Gruters to enter the race for Congress in the state’s 16th District — and promising his full endorsement if she does.

In a Tuesday post on Truth Social, Trump signaled strong support for Gruters, who has not yet officially declared her candidacy but is reportedly considering a run.

“Word is that Sydney Gruters, the wife of our GREAT Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Joe Gruters, is considering launching her Campaign for Congress in Florida’s 16th Congressional District!” Trump wrote.

“Should she decide to enter this Race, Sydney Gruters has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, SYDNEY, RUN!” the president added.

The endorsement comes as the seat opens up following GOP Rep. Vern Buchanan’s decision not to seek re-election, setting the stage for what could become a competitive Republican primary in a reliably conservative district along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Sydney Gruters is married to Joe Gruters, a prominent figure in Republican politics who currently serves as chair of the Republican National Committee and as a Florida state senator. Her potential candidacy would further cement the Gruters family’s influence within both state and national GOP circles.

Responding to Trump’s backing, Gruters expressed gratitude while stopping short of confirming her plans.

“I am deeply honored to have the endorsement of President Donald J. Trump,” she said, according to Florida Politics. “His leadership transformed our country and continues to inspire millions of Americans who believe in putting America First. I’m especially committed to advancing policies that lower the cost of living for hardworking families across our community. I’m grateful for his support and look forward to making an announcement about the path ahead very soon.”

Gruters currently serves as executive director and vice president of advancement for the New College Foundation, giving her a background in education and nonprofit leadership that could shape her campaign message if she enters the race.

Trump’s early endorsement — issued before an official campaign launch — underscores his continued influence in Republican primaries and his willingness to shape candidate fields well ahead of election season. His backing often carries significant weight among GOP voters, particularly in Florida, a state where he remains highly popular within the party.

In his post, Trump also outlined the policy priorities he believes Gruters would champion in Congress, framing her as a reliable ally of his political agenda.

“A Highly Successful Civic Leader and Public Servant, Sydney has dedicated her life to serving her Community, and she and her family are fierce advocates for our Movement to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!,” Trump wrote.

“As your next Congresswoman, Sydney will fight tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Support our Military/Veterans, Safeguard our Elections, Champion School Choice, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.”

With Buchanan stepping aside and Trump already signaling his preferred candidate, the race for Florida’s 16th District is quickly taking shape — even as Sydney Gruters weighs whether to officially enter the contest.

‘QAnon Shaman’ Eyes Run For Arizona Congressional Seat

4
Elvert Barnes, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Jacob Chansley, the Capitol rioter who came to be known as the “QAnon Shaman,” has reportedly filed paperwork signaling his interest in running for the Arizona congressional seat being vacated by Debbie Lesko (R).

The Arizona Republic reported that a candidate statement of interest was signed by Jacob Angeli-Chansley and filed with the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office on Thursday, indicating he would seek to run as a Libertarian. He has also been known to go by Jacob Angeli.

The Hill has more:

Chansley, 35, gained notoriety for his horned fur hat, bare chest and face paint that made him one of the more recognizable Jan. 6 rioters. He pleaded guilty to a charge of obstructing an official proceeding and sentenced to 41 months in prison. Chansley, who grew up in Phoenix, served 27 of those months before being released to a halfway house this past March.

The Associated Press reported that while the Constitution does not bar felons from running for Congress, Arizona law prevents them from voting in elections until they complete their sentence and have the right restored.

Former Republican Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters has also jumped into the race for Lesko’s seat.

“I’m running for Congress, to fight for Arizona’s 8th,” Masters said on X, formerly Twitter. “Biden has failed. We need Trump back. We need to stop inflation, Build the Wall, avoid WW3, and secure Arizona’s water future. We need to fight for our families.”

House Holds Highly Anticipated Vote for Speaker’s Gavel

7

On Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives held its vote to determine the next Speaker- the prestigious and coveted position which is third in the line of presidential succession.

Kevin McCarthy, R- Calif., Andy Biggs D- Ariz., and Hakeen Jeffries D- N.Y. were nominated for the position but ultimately the vote ended in a stalemate as the California Republican failed to reach the 218 vote threshold. No nominee reached the required number of votes meaning House lawmakers now will engage in round after round of voting until a Speaker is elected.

According to The Hill, in the event of multiple ballots, the House will not necessarily continue late into the night. The last time there were multiple ballots, the House adjourned until the following day after four failed ballots. Adjourning also allows members time to negotiate and strike deals.

Dire circumstances could lead to unusual procedures. Twice before, in 1849 and 1856, the House agreed to a resolution that allowed a Speaker to be elected by a plurality. That move was something of a last resort, though, and came after 59 and 129 failed ballots. A majority of the whole House would need to agree to that resolution.

McCarthy’s failure to secure the Speaker’s gavel during Tuesday’s vote marks the first time in a century the U.S. House of Representatives has gone to multiple votes for the office.

Hours before the 118th Congress began its leadership deliberations the influential conservative organization Club for Growth urged lawmakers to oppose McCarthy for Speaker unless he makes a number of concessions.

“I just voted for Jim Jordan to be Speaker of the House.” Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R) tweeted during the vote.

The highly anticipated result came after a contentious campaign battle for the position as disappointing midterm results spurred animosity amongst Republican lawmakers. McCarthy was initially named the sole Republican contender for the position but some blamed the California Republican for the lackluster midterm results leading them to declare their early opposition to his bid for Speaker.

On Sunday, according to The Hill, Rep. McCarthy offered a number of concessions including allowing a move to “vacate the chair” that would force a vote on ousting the Speaker with the approval of five Republican members, rather than a threshold of at least half of the House GOP Conference that Republicans adopted in an internal rule in November. 

The chamber is also scheduled to create a House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the “Weaponization of the Federal Government,” a recognition of a request to increase scrutiny on the Biden administration and intelligence agencies.

In a letter to GOP colleagues, McCarthy — speaking as “Speaker-Designate” — also addressed a request from conservatives to have more representation on committees.

“I will use my selections on key panels to ensure they more closely reflect the ideological makeup of our conference, and will advocate for the same when it comes to the membership of standing committees. This will facilitate greater scrutiny of bills from the start so they stand a greater chance of passing in the end,” the letter from McCarthy said.

However, despite McCarthy’s best attempts to re-attract hardline Republican lawmakers back to his side, some conservatives said after a Sunday conference call that McCarthy is still coming up short.

According to The Washington Examiner:

During the course of the call, multiple members “said they won’t vote for it [the rules package] if Kevin is not Speaker,” one lawmaker told The Examiner. Another member said moderates expressed grievances with the changes to the motion to vacate despite pro-McCarthy lawmakers attempting to sell the package to defectors in hopes it would shift critics’ support toward the California Republican.

“They started [the call] with this new rules package that we’re all about to see and are obviously saying the rules package – it’s great, everyone worked so hard, we got all these great things and they’re gonna be historic. And then [Gaetz] got on there and said, ‘Well, if everyone wants the rules package, we should accept it no matter who the speaker is because if these are good rules are good rules, right?’” the lawmaker said. “But then the mods piled on and said actually, we hate the rules package.”

Following the call, a group of conservatives released a letter saying the California Republican’s changes had come up short of what was needed to secure support.

“Regrettably, however, despite some progress achieved, Mr. McCarthy’s statement comes almost impossibly late to address continued deficiencies ahead of the opening of the 118th Congress on January 3rd. At this stage, it cannot be a surprise that expressions of vague hopes reflected in far too many of the crucial points still under debate are insufficient,” they wrote.

“This is especially true with respect to Mr. McCarthy’s candidacy for Speaker because the times call for radical departure from the status quo — not a continuation of past, and ongoing, Republican failures. For someone with a 14-year presence in senior House Republican leadership, Mr. McCarthy bears squarely the burden to correct the dysfunction he now explicitly admits across that long tenure.”

House Freedom Caucus chairman Scott Perry told The Hill on Sunday, “I think what he’s trying to do is the bare minimum that he needs to try and get to where he can get the votes. And that’s not indicative of somebody that really wants to embrace new ideas, reject the status quo and unify all members in the conference.”

DeSantis Launches Florida Redistricting Push 

On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis launched a redistricting effort to potentially secure additional Republican congressional seats in the state.

DeSantis announced the move, saying he will be convening a special session for the state legislature to adjust current maps. The move comes as red and blue states across the country have pursued redistricting to secure an advantage in the 2026 midterm elections.

“Today, I announced that I will be convening a Special Session of the Legislature focused on redistricting to ensure that Florida’s congressional maps accurately reflect the population of our state. Every Florida resident deserves to be represented fairly and constitutionally,” DeSantis wrote.

“This Special Session will take place after the regular legislative session, which will allow the Legislature to first focus on the pressing issues facing Floridians before devoting its full attention to congressional redistricting in April,” he added.

Currently, Republicans hold 20 of Florida’s 28 congressional districts. Florida Republicans may also face challenges because of language in the state’s constitution that puts tight restrictions on gerrymandering.

Texas and California have also pursued major redistricting efforts, with Texas overcoming some initial pushback from the courts.

In early December, the Supreme Court delivered a significant victory to Texas Republicans, clearing the way for a new congressional map that could add up to five GOP-leaning seats in 2026. In a 6-3 ruling, the justices halted a lower court order and said Texas can use the map while the legal fight plays out.

Florida is another key battleground where redistricting could bolster Republican prospects. Governor Ron DeSantis has already demonstrated a willingness to redraw maps, most notably by dismantling a North Florida district long viewed as favorable to Democrats. Further tweaks ahead of 2026 could reinforce Republican dominance in the state by locking in gains made over the last two cycles and reducing the number of truly competitive districts. (RELATED: Supreme Court Clears Texas To Use GOP-Friendly Map In 2026)

Similarly, in states like Ohio and Tennessee, GOP legislators continue to test the limits of court rulings and constitutional constraints, seeking maps that better reflect — in their view — statewide partisan preferences, which currently favor Republicans.

While these redistricting efforts are unlikely to produce a dramatic wave of new GOP seats on their own, they could prove decisive in a narrowly divided House. With margins expected to be razor-thin, even two or three additional Republican-leaning districts may be enough to offset losses from retirements or difficult midterm headwinds.

Ukranian President Accuses Ex-Fox News Personality Of Colluding With Russia

2
Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused conservative commentator Tucker Carlson of working with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

Responding to Carlson’s own appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored – during which he criticized Zelensky for his persecution of political opponents and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – the Ukrainian president claimed, “Regrettably, this blogger or journalist, whatever he wants to call him, he unfortunately fully repeats words of the Putin.”

“It seems to me that to this journalist, I do not remember his surname. Excuse me, Tucker. Yes, Tucker, his name, but it seems to me he needs to more deeply understand what’s happening in Ukraine,” Zelensky said during an appearance on pundit Piers Morgan’s program. “Just stop working for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”

Carlson, Zelensky said, knows better.

“When he simply says something, you know, just throwing the words,” the Ukrainian leader said. “Has he for one time in his lifetime lost his close ones? I wish to his family, I do not know his family, I wish them peace and no losses, but one must have his own opinion and understand that he probably influences many people. He’s simply disinforming them, misinforming the people.”

Watch:

Carlson, a former Fox News host, recently launched his own media company and used an interview and commentary style internet show to feature conversations with newsmakers and other public figures.

Last year, Carlson published an extensive interview with Putin, during which the Russian leader defended his invasion of Ukraine. (RELATED: Tucker Carlson Confirms Vladimir Putin Interview)

During his appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Zelensky also claimed he had been invited to President Donald Trump’s inauguration but decided not to go.

“President Trump invited me to his inauguration, but he invited me in very general terms, as maybe other leaders,” he said. “I think that it was simply not very appropriate for me to come. He wouldn’t have time for [a] personal meeting.”

Trump Confronted On Air Force One About Running Again – His Answer Will Trigger A Liberal Meltdown

0

Trump can’t resist trolling the Left…

On Sunday, President Trump addressed speculation he could be angling to attempt to pursue another term in the White House despite being term-limited by the Constitution.

Trump has been floating the idea of blowing off term limits for years, and one Republican has already introduced an amendment to allow it. During an interview with NBC News anchor Kristen Welker over the weekend, President Trump joked that he would consider running for a “fourth term.”

On his way back from Mar-a-Lago Sunday, Trump emerged into the press cabin on Air Force One to take questions from reporters and was confronted about his latest remarks.

Read:

Q: You said you were not joking about possibly wanting a third term. Does that mean you’re not planning to leave office on January 20?

POTUS: “I’m not looking at that but I’ll tell you, I have had more people ask me to have a third term, which in a way is a fourth term because the other election, the 2020 election was totally rigged, so it’s actually sort of a fourth term. I just don’t want the credit for the second because Biden was so bad, he did such a bad job, and I think that’s one of the reasons that I’m popular, if you want to know the truth.

“I think I’m popular because we’ve done a great job. I think we’ve had the best hundred days of almost any president. Most people are saying that and it’s an honour, bringing back our country. We’re respected as a country again. We’re strongly respected and people are amazed.

“I was with some very important people today and they said they’ve never seen a turnaround of a country as fast as this. Even look at our border. We have nobody coming in and you can’t come into our country; you have to come in legally. We have nobody coming into our country. It’s almost shut down.”

Q: The constitution limits a president to two terms –

POTUS: “I don’t even want to talk about it. I’m just telling you I have had more people saying, please run again. We have a long way to go before we even think about that but I’ve had a lot of people.”

Q: Do you think that’s an appropriate precedent to set, even if it’s not you in that position?

POTUS: “I don’t even want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, you’ve got a long time to go. We have a long time. We have almost four years to go and that’s a long time but despite that so many people are saying you’ve got to run again. They love the job we’re doing. Most importantly they love the job we’re doing.”

Watch:

The US Constitution seems to rule out anyone having a third term. The 22nd Amendment states:

“No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice, and no person who has held the office of president, or acted as president, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected president shall be elected to the office of the president more than once.”

Changing the constitution would require a two-thirds approval from both the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as approval from three-quarters of the country’s state-level governments.

However, some Trump supporters have argued there is a loophole in the Constitution, untested in court.

They argue that the 22nd Amendment only explicitly bans someone being “elected” to more than two presidential terms – and says nothing of “succession”.

Under this theory, Trump could be the vice-presidential running-mate to another candidate – perhaps his own vice-president, JD Vance – in the 2028 election.

If they win, the candidate could be sworn into the White House and then immediately resign – letting Trump take over by succession.

Bernie Sanders Addressed Claims He And AOC Are Trying To Launch Third Party

6
By Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez & Bernie Sanders, CC BY-SA 2.0,

Self-proclaimed Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) recently aired his grievances with the Democrat Party saying the party lacks a vision for the future but denied claims he’s planning to launch a new political party with the help of progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Sanders recently told the New York Times one of the goals of his tour of rallies across the country with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) was to encourage progressive candidates to run as independents and not as Democrats – denied that he was attempting to start a third party when asked by NBC’s “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker. 

“We’re not trying to start a third party. What we are trying to do is strengthen American Democracy where faith in both the Democratic and Republican Parties is extremely low,” Sanders said.

“You want to run as a Democrat? Great. You want to run as an independent? That’s great, but you’ve got to get involved in the political process,” he added. 

Sanders continued, “What Democrats lack right now is a vision for the future… The two-party system is failing the working class of this country.” 

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have been barnstorming the country on what they call their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. The duo have attracted large crowds at their rallies, which have been held in Arizona, Utah, California and other states, but have also attracted criticism. 

Fox News noted that the pair of progressive lawmakers were spotted exiting a private jet costing a staggering $15,000 an hour in Sacramento, California on April 17. The self-identified Democratic Socialists chartered the jet to transport them to several West Coast stops on the tour.

An April Fox News poll found that Democrats are at their lowest favorability rating ever, with just 41% of those surveyed having a favorable view of the party and 56% of respondents having an unfavorable view, leaving the party at a negative 15% rating. Democrats are still favored over the Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections, however. 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has been rumored as a potential 2028 primary opponent to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer but has yet to make any announcement.

However, a government accountability nonprofit is calling on the House to launch a probe into whether Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., misappropriated her taxpayer-funded member allowance.

Americans for Public Trust, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, sent a letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) on Tuesday, questioning “several troubling expenses” from AOC’s disbursements, which they claim are “in contravention of federal law and the standards of the House of Representatives.”

Each member of Congess receives a Member Representational Allowance (“MRA”), a budget for official duties that “may not be used for personal or campaign purposes,” according to the Congressional Research Service. However, the “Squad” member is being accused of using these funds for “campaign purposes.”

AOC reportedly made a payment of $3,700 to a “Juan D Gonzalez” and another for $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc.,” with both expenditures described as being used for “training.”

DeSantis Hints At Another White House Run

1
Ron DeSantis via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is leaving the door open to another presidential bid after his unsuccessful 2024 campaign, signaling he could reemerge as a contender in the increasingly competitive 2028 Republican primary.

“We’ll see,” DeSantis told Fox News host Sean Hannity on his podcast, “Hang Out with Sean Hannity.” The full interview is set to be released Tuesday.

DeSantis, who is term-limited and will leave office in January 2027, faces a relatively short window to decide his political future. With the 2028 primary season expected to ramp up shortly thereafter, he will have roughly a year out of office to assess whether to launch another White House run.

Once viewed as a rising star in the GOP, DeSantis entered the 2024 presidential race with significant momentum. His national profile surged his opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns and a dominant nearly 20-point reelection victory in Florida in 2022. Early on, he was widely considered one of the strongest alternatives to former President Trump.

However, his campaign struggled to gain traction amid a prolonged and often contentious rivalry with Trump, who retained deep loyalty among Republican voters. After finishing a distant second in the Iowa caucuses — with just over 21 percent of the vote and nine delegates — DeSantis suspended his campaign ahead of the New Hampshire primary and endorsed Trump. He ultimately placed third overall in the Republican primary, behind Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Reflecting on that race, DeSantis suggested his support was constrained by Trump’s presence in the field.

“They were conservative voters, right? They didn’t want the non-conservative, they wanted me,” he said. “But the timing didn’t work out, obviously, for that.”

“So you just got to see what happens,” he added.

Looking ahead, the 2028 Republican primary is already beginning to take shape, with several high-profile figures jockeying for early position. Vice President JD Vance currently holds a significant polling advantage, benefiting from his national platform and close alignment with Trump-era politics.

Recent surveys illustrate the early dynamics of the race. A poll conducted by Echelon Insights found that 40 percent of Republican-leaning respondents favored Vance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio followed at 16 percent, while Donald Trump Jr., DeSantis and Haley trailed with 9 percent, 5 percent and 5 percent, respectively. Thirteen percent of respondents remained undecided.

A separate poll by The Public Sentiment Institute showed a somewhat tighter field, with DeSantis polling at 13.5 percent — good for third place — behind Vance (29.3 percent) and Rubio (15.5 percent). Nearly 10 percent of respondents were undecided.

The early polling underscores both the opportunity and the challenge for DeSantis. While he remains a recognizable figure with a record that appeals to conservative voters, he would likely enter a crowded field that includes establishment figures like Rubio, Trump-aligned candidates such as Vance and Trump Jr., and other potential contenders still weighing bids.

With Trump’s future political role uncertain and no clear consensus successor, the 2028 race is shaping up to be a wide-open contest. Whether DeSantis can reestablish himself as a top-tier candidate may depend on how effectively he rebuilds momentum after his 2024 defeat — and whether the political environment proves more favorable the second time around.