DeSantis Calls GOP Midterm Losses Close to Extinction-Level Event
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that Republicans' midterm losses came close to an extinction-level event. He called the result a rejection of Republicans in Washington, not an embrace of Democrats.
7 Republican-held Senate seats flipped, including Iowa, Kansas, Ohio and Texas.
25 or more House seats flipped to Democrats, with some races uncalled.
1 of the 10 largest states will have full GOP control, DeSantis said.
Republican Byron Donalds won Florida's governor race; Sen. Ashley Moody won reelection.
Why it matters: DeSantis said losing Texas statewide offices could hurt Republicans for a decade or more. He said the party cannot stay nationally viable without Texas as an anchor.
He blamed GOP votes against releasing the Epstein files and banning congressional stock trading.
He said Republicans ran on transgender issues instead of costs, jobs and AI.
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Where they split: Republicans disagree on the main cause of the losses: DeSantis pointed to congressional conduct and messaging, while Vice President JD Vance pointed to the Iran war.
Center coverage, 10 sources: The center presents DeSantis's speech as a sweeping criticism of his own party after an election debacle.
Right coverage, 26 sources: The right centers DeSantis's extinction-level warning, his case that Washington Republicans caused the losses, and Florida as the state that held.
What’s next: DeSantis predicted Republicans are unlikely to retake the Senate in 2028. In a post on X, he said Senate control might not be within reach until 2032.
Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi had not been called as of Wednesday.
Will Florida's result strengthen a DeSantis presidential bid in 2028?
How large will the final Democratic Senate and House majorities be?
