Ron DeSantis just left the House GOPs leadership team but the Florida congressman looks as strong as ever.
Concerned with the way Steve Scalise was demanding the team vote en masse with the House leadership vote on procedural votes, DeSantis and fellow conservative Jeff Duncan hightailed it out of there. Theres a temptation to think there are problems in the GOP leadership, especially with DeSantis and Duncan forming the House Freedom Caucus last month, but sources tell Politico the parting was very conciliatory.
DeSantis has had no problem breaking with John Boehner, Scalise and House leadership before. Back in December, he voted against the CRomnibus federal spending plan. Despite going off the reservation there, DeSantis hasnt been hurt. He chairs the National Security Subcommittee and is the vice chairman of the Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee -- not bad posts for a sophomore.
Despite being in only his first months in Congress, DeSantis has shown an ability to generate attention, winning national attention for leading the fight to remove Eric Holder and kicking off efforts to amend the Constitution to prevent Congress from making any law which exempts its own members.
Admittedly, DeSantis has an impressive background. Originally from Jacksonville, he went to Yale as an undergrad before studying law at Harvard. He joined the Navy, serving in the JAG Corps including a tour in Iraq supporting the SEALs. After marrying Jacksonville television personality Casey Black, DeSantis left the service in 2010 and returned home and won an open congressional seat in 2012, destroying an impressive field of Republican primary opponents and routing Democrat Heather Beaven in the process. DeSantis showed a knack for getting the endorsements of prominent Republicans at both the state and national levels.
During his short time in Congress, DeSantis has used his legal background to gain some prominence on the Judiciary Committee. Hes been something of a regular on Fox News in recent months, something most congressional freshmen and sophomores cant claim. In his various attacks on the Obama administration over everything from Eric Holder to foreign affairs, DeSantis has shown a knack for going on the offensive while still winning points with Republicans.
Since his district ranges from outside of Jacksonville to Daytona Beach, DeSantis has a foot in two different parts of the state. This could give him an excellent launching pad for future bids for statewide office.
Only 36, DeSantis has to be included in future political calculations. If Marco Rubio ends up on the national ticket in 2016, his Senate seat would be open and its possible that DeSantis could run for it, though that seems a little early. DeSantis could have a second opportunity to move to the Senate in 2018 when Bill Nelsons term expires. While he could challenge Nelson, DeSantis could be looking at an open seat since the incumbent will turn 76 that year.
Its still early in his political career but DeSantis has shown little interest in whats happening in Tallahassee. A bid for Florida attorney general in 2018 is not out of the question, especially if DeSantis feels he needs to raise his statewide profile and Nelson seeks another term. DeSantis has time on his side, to be sure, but his whole career as a politician and a lawyer seems more focused on federal matters than state.
DeSantis could also rise up the ranks in the House. He comes from a safe Republican district and he could spend years rising in Congress. So far, DeSantis has been able to appeal to conservatives, the tea party movement and the GOP leadership which could help him if he spends numerous terms in the House. DeSantis also seems well-positioned between Boehners critics from Florida and the congressmen in the delegation who generally have the speakers back. Thats no small thing, especially with Steve Southerland, who had filled that role to some extent, now out of Congress.
While hes only been in the House for barely two years, DeSantis is turning out to be a gifted politician and a strong conservative. Wherever his path takes him, DeSantis appears headed to being a major political player in Florida for decades to come. Even leaving the leadership has done nothing to dim DeSantis star.
Tallahassee political writer Jeff Henderson wrote this analysis exclusively for Sunshine State News.
