DeSantis's Waning Influence
During the midterm elections that year, DeSantis secured re-election by an unprecedented margin of nearly 20 points and endorsed 30 school board candidates, with only five failing to win.
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However, following an unsuccessful attempt to secure the GOP presidential nomination, DeSantis’s national standing has taken a hit, and his endorsement clout within Florida seems to be diminishing.
Primary Setbacks
In the recent primary elections, DeSantis endorsed 23 school board candidates, but nearly half of them lost, and six others are headed for runoffs.
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Although DeSantis remains a popular governor in Florida, a state increasingly leaning Republican with a more than 1 million voter registration advantage, these primary losses represent some of the most significant political challenges he has faced within the state in recent years.
Mixed Outcomes
His endorsed candidates also faced setbacks in other races, though he did achieve some victories in state legislative contests.
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The school board elections, however, offer a glimpse into the changing political landscape for DeSantis.
Breaking New Ground
Notably, DeSantis is the first governor in Florida’s history to become so deeply involved in school board races, which are typically seen as low-key and nonpartisan.
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DeSantis and his team have portrayed the primary night losses as expected difficulties, pointing out that some of the candidates he supported were running in predominantly Democratic areas.
DeSantis on Challenging Areas
“You’re going into some of these areas that Republicans have never been competitive in, like the heart of Tampa,” DeSantis said at a news conference on Wednesday.
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“You need to field candidates and run them all the way across the board.”
DeSantis-Endorsed Candidates Struggle
Some races were in Democratic-leaning counties, but DeSantis-backed candidates also faced defeats in traditionally conservative areas like Indian River, Sarasota, and Flagler counties.
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All of these counties were easily won by Donald Trump in 2020.
Duval County Victory
DeSantis highlighted victories in Duval County, where Jacksonville is located, which helped flip that school board towards candidates more aligned with Republican education policies.
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However, this was a rare clear-cut win for a governor who has grown accustomed to consistent success in his state.
Shifting Dynamics
“I think it’s pretty clear that we are moving back toward a scenario where candidates once again matter,” said a longtime Florida Republican operative and DeSantis supporter, speaking anonymously.
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“In 2018, a Trump endorsement was like gold. In 2022, DeSantis could have handpicked anyone in Florida he wanted. In 2024, you need more than an endorsement to win.”
Long-Term Implications
The operative also suggested that the impact of Tuesday’s vote could extend into 2026.
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By then, a crowded field of Republicans is expected to compete to succeed DeSantis, who will be ineligible to run again due to term limits.
Endorsement Scramble
These contenders will likely vie for endorsements from DeSantis or Trump.
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Both saw some of their endorsed candidates lose on Tuesday night.
Diminishing Returns
What was once seen as a crucial endorsement for any Republican candidate may be losing its significance.
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“The biggest losers in this scenario are the ones who convinced themselves in 2026 there was some magic Trump endorsement that was going to make them governor,” the operative added.