Casey DeSantis in spotlight amid Hope Florida allegations

Florida first lady Casey DeSantis finds herself in the spotlight amid growing controversy surrounding allegations involving an organization linked to her.

The controversy, which stems from a payment made to an organization tied to her signature welfare assistance program, comes amid speculation she could launch a gubernatorial bid to succeed her outgoing husband, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

But the allegations surrounding the Hope Florida Foundation, which is linked to her Hope Florida initiative, pose a threat to her future political ambitions.

“The Hope Florida hearings have to play a role into her decision to run,” said one Florida Republican operative. “It is her signature achievement that’s being attacked and called corrupt. This is a sign of things to come if she decides to enter the race. It has to give her pause.”

Casey DeSantis has long been a popular figure in the Sunshine State and beyond, playing a key role in her husband’s 2024 presidential run. Early polls indicate she could be a formidable primary opponent for gubernatorial candidate Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.).

A Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy survey released in March showed Casey DeSantis with a 53 percent approval rating, slightly higher than that of Donalds, who came in at 48 percent. A separate poll released in March conducted by Republican firm Fabrizio Lee and Associates found that 34 percent of likely Republican primary voters said they preferred Donalds for the role while 30 percent said they preferred the state’s first lady. 

Prior to entering the political realm with her husband, Casey DeSantis worked as a producer and on-air host in Florida for the PGA Tour. She then worked as an anchor and reporter at two Florida television stations. 

During her tenure as first lady, DeSantis has touted a number of initiatives, including the launch of the Florida Cancer Connect Initiative. The launch followed her battle with breast cancer, which was announced in 2021. 

She has spoken candidly about her battle with cancer, including in an emotional ad for her husband’s reelection campaign titled “This is Who Ron DeSantis is.” She was declared cancer free in 2022. 

DeSantis was also a frequent presence on her husband’s presidential campaign, with many political observers pointing to her charisma and media savvy as a boon for the campaign. 

While the governor’s 2024 bid did not end up panning out, Casey DeSantis continued to build her profile in her husband’s remaining years in the governor’s mansion.

She launched “Hope Florida— A Pathway to Prosperity” in 2021. The state government program is implemented by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

According to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, the program has led to more than 30,000 Floridians decreasing or eliminating their reliance on public assistance. 

But the Hope Florida Foundation, which is tied to the program and is not spearheaded by Casey DeSantis, has come under increased scrutiny from state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in recent months. 

The controversy that has drawn headlines in recent weeks concerns a $10 million payment to the foundation. Critics argue this money was inappropriately used to help campaign against a ballot measure that would have legalized recreational marijuana in the state last November.

That money, critics say, was part of a settlement agreement involving the state’s largest Medicaid contractor, Centene. According to them, a chunk of that settlement, all of which was intended to be returned to state and federal coffers, was sent to the Hope Florida Foundation and eventually ended up in the hands of political groups that campaigned against the ballot measure. Ron DeSantis was among the politicians opposed to the measure’s passage.

On Tuesday, Florida media obtained a draft agreement of the settlement that suggested $10 million of that money was funneled through the charity connected to the organization founded and promoted by Casey DeSantis and eventually sent to two nonprofit groups involved in the campaign against the ballot measure. 

The governor called the report “fabricated” during a press conference on Wednesday, pointing to a letter from the state’s Agency for Healthcare Administration to state Rep. Alex Andrade (R), who has been investigating the matter, saying the money was not Medicaid funds and the donation was not illegal. 

“They got a $10 million private donation on top of that, which is what the agency said from the beginning,” Ron DeSantis told reporters. “This is an attempt to try to manufacture a narrative where there’s really nothing there. Why are they doing it? It’s all because they want to try to impugn our Hope Florida program. That’s why they’re doing it. It’s all political.” 

In another press conference on Thursday, he doubled down, calling the allegations “bogus” and arguing that they’re part of a coordinated effort to attack his wife.

“Some of these left journalists don’t like it. They don’t like you working with the faith-based community. Some of these people view it as a way to attack the first lady and all the great things she’s done and they view her as a threat,” he said.

The controversy is the latest in a rocky legislative session which has laid bare what has been described as a Florida Republican civil war between the governor and legislators. 

The intraparty divide could preview what a contested Republican primary would look like should Casey DeSantis launch a gubernatorial bid. 

“It’s a sign of other things to come,” said Ford O’Connell, a Florida Republican strategist. “She is getting a shot across the bow and a taste of the type of slime that will be thrown around should she choose to run for governor.” 

“People do not realize what bareknuckle, brutal campaigns it is to become the Republican nominee, whether it’s statewide or in certain small districts,” he continued. “It is war.”

While Donalds has steered clear of the rift between Ron DeSantis and state House Republicans, the congressman did make a public return to his former stomping grounds in the state House earlier this month. Donalds was seen hugging state House Speaker Daniel Perez (R), who has been locked in a feud with Ron DeSantis. 

Others aren’t as sure that this coverage surrounding Hope Florida will play into the couple’s political calculus going forward. 

“Anybody who thinks an attack like this is going to dissuade the DeSantises from entering the race either has never met them or been around them in the political context,” said one Republican strategist. 

The strategist said the battle playing out in Tallahassee is the state’s political establishment, meaning legislative leaders, vs. the governor. 

“The danger here for them using Hope Florida in the context is it’s being delivered by the speaker and others who are seen as the party establishment,” the strategist said. “They’re using the wrong messenger.” 

While Donalds entered the race in March and scored President Trump’s coveted endorsement days after announcing his bid, Casey DeSantis arguably still has time to make a final decision. The state’s Republican primary is set to take place in August 2026. 

“I think it would be a big mistake for anybody to get in this early,” the strategist said.