DeSantis Warns 'Big Pool' Of Trump-Only Voters Could Undermine GOP Turnout In Midterms

DeSantis: Trump-Only Voters Pose A Turnout Risk For GOP

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday warned that a "big pool" of voters who turn out specifically for former President Donald Trump could present a problem for the Republican Party in next year’s midterm elections if Trump is not on the ballot.

“I think Republicans have an issue that Donald Trump has created a big pool of voters, but some of them are unique to him,” DeSantis said on Fox & Friends. “They'll go vote for Trump, and they'll vote for all Republicans when Trump is on the ballot. But if he's not on the ballot, some of them don't vote.”

DeSantis argued this dynamic is particularly visible in off-year midterm elections, when turnout patterns often shift: "In an off-year midterm, the party in power's voters tend to be more complacent. The party out of power, they get upset — that's just the nature of midterms," he said.

He cautioned Republicans not to assume that districts which supported Trump will automatically back other GOP candidates in his absence. That vulnerability, DeSantis said, requires parties to build turnout strategies that do not rely solely on one candidate's magnetism.

Florida 2022 As A Case Study

DeSantis pointed to Florida’s 2022 election cycle as an example of how Republicans can still win without depending entirely on Trump’s presence. He recalled winning reelection in 2022 by roughly 1.5 million votes — about a 20-point margin — and said the party achieved gains by emphasizing clear messaging and policy results.

Republicans also flipped four Democratic-held U.S. House districts in Florida that year, bringing the party's total to 20 of the state's 28 House seats. DeSantis also referenced Senator Marco Rubio’s reelection victory over Democratic challenger Val Demings as part of the broader GOP success in Florida.

“We won by a million and a half votes, 20 points, the biggest Republican win ever,” DeSantis said. “But we did that based on results and substance. We did it by flying under a banner of bold colors, not pale pastels. We were sticking it to the left every single day and delivering big victories. So, it can be done.”

DeSantis urged Republicans to pair bold messaging with tangible results to motivate voters who might otherwise sit out an election without Trump on the ticket.