Donald Trump is still the favorite to be the Republican nominee for the next US President. However, if Trump fails to be the next candidate, oddsmakers back Ron DeSantis. Find out why the governor of Florida is next in line.
What If Trump Fails?
A House select committee is currently investigating the Capitol attack and whether Trump and the White House helped plan or had advanced knowledge of the insurrection. If found guilty, the consequences could be far-reaching. But what if the unexpected happens and Trump gets a prison term or is banned from holding office? One thing is sure: he wouldn’t go quietly. He would proclaim to his loyal supporters that he had been persecuted and wronged. Trump would then use his influential position to endorse and financially support one of his close allies to become the presidential candidate – this is why the odds back Ron DeSantis.
The Trump Loyalist Ron DeSantis
Ron DeSantis was elected as governor of Florida in 2018 on a pro-Trump campaign. Trump said: “Congressman Ron DeSantis, a top student at Yale and Harvard Law School, is running for governor of the great state of Florida. Ron is strong on borders, tough on crime, and big on cutting taxes – loves our military and our vets. He will be a great governor and has my full endorsement.”
The Republican Party claimed that Florida is “Trump country.” Still, Desantis managed to win approval from both political sides by raising teachers’ wages, introducing environmental protections to save the Everglades, and easing restrictions on medical marijuana. Residents of Florida liked his centrist style.
How DeSantis Has Handled the Pandemic
The pandemic became a battle of philosophies: state controls versus personal freedoms. Ron DeSantis choose the latter, defying his public-health experts over mask-wearing and the lifting of the lockdown despite high virus numbers throughout the state. Despite criticism, he allowed protected family members to visit relatives in care homes and gave parents the choice of mask-wearing and restrictions in school. These actions led Republicans across the nation to see DeSantis as a capable politician.
The Trump Followers
DeSantis is now pursuing policies that could bring the former President’s followers on board. He is running on a platform of issues close to Trump’s agenda: limits on voting by mail and using ballot drop boxes, a ban on critical race theory being taught in schools, banning the right of social media companies to suspend politicians, and limits on certain kinds of political protest.
Trumpism is here to stay, and many Trump supporters see DeSantis as a younger man who could take their vision to the next level. Even if Trump becomes a Presidential candidate, the Floridian may be invited to step forward as his running mate or go one step further and launch his own presidential bid.
View the latest odds for the next US presidential election
Philip Carlson is a gambling industry analyst based in NYC. He covers political global political betting markets and sports-betting for Vegas-odds.com
