Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has left the door open for a potential 2028 presidential bid, declining to rule out another White House run in a recent interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
DeSantis, who is term-limited and will leave office in January 2027, responded with a measured “We’ll see” when asked directly about running again on Hannity’s podcast, “Hang Out with Sean Hannity.” He added that, regardless of his personal plans, “we will be able to show that conservatism works.” The full interview was set for release on Tuesday.
The remarks come as speculation builds about the post-Trump era in the Republican Party. DeSantis entered the 2024 Republican presidential race as a top contender, buoyed by his strong opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns and a commanding nearly 20-point reelection victory in Florida in 2022. However, he faced an uphill battle against former President Donald Trump’s deep loyalty among GOP voters.
DeSantis finished a distant second in the Iowa caucuses with just over 21 percent of the vote and nine delegates. He suspended his campaign before the New Hampshire primary and endorsed Trump. In the Hannity interview, DeSantis reflected on the race, suggesting that without Trump in the field, he would have captured support from roughly 90 percent of conservative voters in Iowa.
“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.”
Early polling for the 2028 Republican nomination shows Vice President JD Vance holding a commanding lead among GOP voters. A mid-March Echelon Insights survey of Republican-leaning respondents found Vance at 40 percent, followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 16 percent. Donald Trump Jr. received 9 percent, while DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley each drew 5 percent, with 13 percent undecided.
A separate poll by the Public Sentiment Institute placed DeSantis at 13.5 percent, putting him in third behind Vance (29.3 percent) and Rubio (15.5 percent), though the sample size was smaller at 173 registered Republicans, with nearly 10 percent undecided or unsure. Other recent surveys have similarly shown Vance dominating first-choice preferences, often in the 40-50 percent range, with Rubio as the strongest alternative and DeSantis in single digits for first-choice support—though his name recognition keeps him viable in “would consider” questions.
President Trump has publicly discussed both Vance and Rubio as key figures in his administration, praising their complementary styles. During a press conference, Trump noted Vance could be “a little bit tough on occasion” and that advisers sometimes need to “slow him down,” while describing Rubio as operating with “a velvet glove, but it’s a kill.”
At a Mar-a-Lago donor gathering earlier this month, Trump reportedly asked attendees what they thought of Vance and Rubio. Sources indicated the applause was louder for Rubio. A Daily Mail/JL Partners poll of registered voters found Vance viewed as the most influential figure in Trump’s inner circle at 19 percent, compared to Rubio’s 12 percent. Rubio’s overall approval has seen some fluctuation in recent surveys.
DeSantis’ non-committal stance is strategic. With more than a year before the 2028 primary season intensifies, he can focus on his final months governing Florida while monitoring how the Trump administration performs on key issues like the economy, border security, and foreign policy. His record of conservative policy victories in Florida—on education, immigration, and parental rights—continues to appeal to many Republicans who value results-oriented governance.
The 2028 field remains wide open and highly fluid. Events over the next two years, including the 2026 midterms and the successes or challenges of the current administration, will likely reshape voter preferences dramatically. For now, DeSantis is positioning himself as a potential contender who can consolidate the conservative lane if opportunities arise, without rushing into an early commitment.
