Florida Governor Ron DeSantis opened his appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle by holding Washington Republicans accountable for the party’s disappointing midterm results. He described the nationwide Democratic sweep as an “extinction‑level event” for the GOP and warned that the loss of key states like Texas signals a real danger of the party becoming nationally unviable.
Voter Apathy Tied to Congressional Inaction
DeSantis argued that many Republican voters stayed home out of frustration, not merely because Democrats were energized. “I’d love to see all this great stuff being done,” he said, “but I never saw an indication that they did it. This midterm was a rebuke of the president and the Congress by Democrats, Independents, and some Republicans that crossed over. A lot of our voters who stayed home, they stayed home because they were frustrated with the lack of productivity from Republicans in the House and Senate.”
Congressional Leadership Criticized
The governor singled out congressional leaders for failing to advance bold conservative policies. He noted missed opportunities to shut down H‑1B visas, to strip federal courts of authority over deportation proceedings, and to codify President Trump’s border executive orders into permanent law. “They were promised big things, and they didn’t deliver it,” DeSantis said, emphasizing that responsibility lies on both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Florida’s Resilience Amid the Wave
Despite the national tide, Florida held its ground. Republican Byron Donalds won the governor’s race to succeed DeSantis, the GOP swept statewide cabinet seats, and the party retained a 26‑14 supermajority in the state Senate. DeSantis credited aggressive planning and voter trust for the state’s performance, noting his early‑fall warning to candidates to shave ten points off President Trump’s previous 13‑point margin as a baseline.
A DeSantis‑backed property‑tax cut on the ballot also helped drive conservative turnout, bluntly offsetting the broader midterm headwinds.
Redistricting and Congressional Map Defense
When asked about Florida’s newly drawn congressional map—where Democrats claim three of four new seats and lead in the fourth—DeSantis pushed back, arguing the court‑ordered redraw actually protected the GOP from a potential two‑seat loss under the old boundaries. He said Republicans now hold 20 seats, a result he called “holding serve” despite the worst midterm pressure since Watergate.
Urgent Call to Pack the Courts
Looking ahead to the lame‑duck session, DeSantis issued a marching order to pack the federal courts before the incoming Democratic Senate majority takes office. “I’d roll in cots to the U.S. Senate cloakroom,” he said. “I’d have them work around the clock because you are not going to be able to confirm any conservative judges starting January 3rd for the remainder of President Trump’s term.” He warned that without swift action, securing conservative nominees will be virtually impossible next year.
What This Means for Florida Conservatives
DeSantis concluded by urging party leaders to leave nothing on the table, emphasizing that the window for decisive action is closing fast. His message underscores a broader strategy: strengthen state‑level successes, demand accountability from Washington Republicans, and ensure the judiciary remains aligned with constitutional principles and traditional values.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
