Trump’s criticism of DeSantis comes after Republican wipeout in Florida

The ripple effects of the Republican wipeout in Florida continued Sunday.

Earlier this week, Manny Diaz, the chairman of the Florida Democratic Party, blamed the midterm losses on a lack of support from Democrats nationwide.

Florida Rep. Fentrice Driskell, the Democrats’ Florida House leader, agreed with Diaz, who faced calls for his resignation this week. She is also gearing up to oppose a tightening of the state’s ban on abortion.

“I do expect it to happen whether it’s six weeks or twelve weeks. We tried to warn the people of Florida about this and tried to hold our Republican counterparts accountable,” Driskell said during This Week In South Florida with Senior Political Reporter Michael Putney and Reporter Glenna Milberg.

Meanwhile, Republicans were dealing with former President Donald Trump’s criticism of Gov. Ron DeSantis after his reelection as he prepared to announce his plans to run for the presidency for the third time in 2024, Trump nicknamed him “DeSanctimonious.”

Political strategists Giancarlo Sopo and Fernand Amandi agreed that Republican voters in Florida were “outliers” during the midterms. Sopo attributed this to the “kind of leadership” that DeSantis and Sen. Marco Rubio display and the likable demeanor of Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar.

“People gravitate toward her, want to take selfies with her,” Sopo said about Salazar.

Amandi said during TWISF that he thinks DeSantis won’t be running against Trump because the former president will turn him into a “low-energy little governor DeSanctimonious” and the MAGA “wing of the Republican party” can only have one leader at a time.

“DeSantis would not dare take him on because he will get crushed,” Amandi said.

Watch This Week In South Florida’s episode

Local 10 News’ Senior Political Reporter Michael Putney and Reporter Glenna Milberg interview officials and experts during This Week In South Florida.

Watch the segment with Driskell

Local 10 News’ This Week In South Florida anchors interview Florida Rep. Fentrice Driskell about the results of the midterm elections in Florida.

Watch the segment with Sopo and Amandi

Local 10 News’ This Week In South Florida anchors interview political consultants Giancarlo Sopo and Fernand Amandi.Read More