DeSantis Warns 2026 Midterms Near Extinction for GOP
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warns of GOP’s dire situation after 2026 midterms, blaming Washington lawmakers.
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Outgoing Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has warned that the 2026 midterms marked a near-extinction-level event for the Republican Party, citing sweeping losses and a national decline in the party’s viability. In a Wednesday speech, DeSantis blamed Washington lawmakers for the party’s devastating electoral setbacks, claiming the results reflected a rejection of the party’s leadership rather than an endorsement of Democrats.
Midterms Rejected D.C. Republicans
DeSantis described the election as a rejection of Washington Republicans rather than an endorsement of Democrats, criticizing GOP lawmakers over congressional stock trading, voting against the release of the Epstein files, and campaign messaging that failed to resonate with voters. He stated, ‘This is close to an extinction level event for Republicans in many parts of the country as we have seen probably in the last hundred years.’
DeSantis: Let’s just be clear about what happened last night. This is close to an EXTINCTION-LEVEL event for Republicans in many parts of the country, as we have seen probably in the last hundred years. In January, when everyone in office leaves who are either term-limited or got voted out, of the ten largest states in this union, only one state will have Republican control of their state: the State of Florida.
DeSantis also highlighted the growing disenchantment with D.C. Republicans, not a growing affinity for liberalism. He noted that the party’s struggles stemmed from a disconnect between establishment neoconservative ideals and the plight of everyday Americans. ‘We knew it could be worse, but I don’t think most of us thought it would be quite this bad… this is probably the political worst case scenario for a midterm election,’ he added.
Broken Promises and Poor Messaging
DeSantis reflected on broken promises regarding the release of the Epstein Files and accountability for those implicated. ‘We ran as Republicans on saying we need to do that. And then you actually have people in the Congress voting against release when the Attorney General said she had all this horrific stuff on her desk and that people were gonna be held accountable,’ he said.
He also criticized the quality of GOP candidates, stating that they lacked a strong positive message and failed to connect with voters. ‘They didn’t have a great positive case for themselves. They were flatfooted. They were trying to explain this or explain that in ways that weren’t landing with voters,’ he said.
Rebuilding the Party
Despite the grim outlook, DeSantis emphasized that the situation for his party is not hopeless. ‘Now it’s going to take a lot of time and effort to rebuild. It will not happen in just one election cycle, but Florida shows how you can build a coalition,’ he argued.
Source: Daily Caller
