As the Iowa caucuses approached, Ron DeSantis’ top advisers braced themselves for a disappointing outcome. Despite earlier polls suggesting a readiness among Republicans to move on from Donald Trump, the tide seemed to be turning. The Florida governor’s team began to strategize for his political future, considering various scenarios and potential paths forward.
One such path suggested that DeSantis could bow out gracefully in the event of a Trump triumph, endorse the former president, complete his second term as governor, and then rebuild his reputation for a potential 2028 run. However, DeSantis dismissed this idea outright, according to a source familiar with the exchange.
But, less than a week after a crushing defeat in Iowa and just days before New Hampshire voters were expected to deliver another blow, DeSantis withdrew from the 2024 presidential race. In a scripted video statement from Florida, DeSantis endorsed Trump and expressed his intention to finish his second term as governor.
DeSantis’ exit marked a dramatic fall for a Republican who, at one point, seemed uniquely positioned to break the party free from Trump’s influence. DeSantis had a compelling background, a generational argument, and a success story to share. Some early polls even showed him leading Trump. However, his campaign made several missteps, acknowledged by his advisers, allies, and supporters in interviews with CNN.
DeSantis has suggested that the race would have been different if Trump wasn’t facing multiple indictments and charges in federal and state courts. Many of his advisers also believe that Trump’s legal troubles galvanized Republicans just as the GOP presidential contest was about to begin, closing the door for an alternative candidate.
Despite a campaign fraught with challenges, DeSantis’ team could not point to many things they did right. From the glitch-ridden kickoff announcement on Twitter Spaces with Elon Musk to the failed Iowa ground operation, the campaign was riddled with errors. The Iowa result not only dampened enthusiasm for his campaign but also undermined its credibility.
DeSantis’ campaign was marked by a slow start, internal squabbles, financial miscalculations, and a lack of a coherent message. Despite these challenges, there were moments when it seemed DeSantis was on the verge of gaining momentum, such as when Iowa’s popular governor, Kim Reynolds, endorsed him in November.
However, DeSantis’ inability to stir a room, his apparent disinterest in the people who showed up to hear him, and his failure to win over Iowans despite his efforts, ultimately led to the end of his campaign. Even in defeat, DeSantis vowed to continue to fight against “woke ideology” and lead Florida.