Senator says DeSantis should run… but in 2028

One of Ron DeSantis’s contemporaries in Congress strongly believes he should wait out 2024 and run in the future as opposed to challenging Donald Trump for the GOP nomination.

Oklahoma senator Markwayne Mullin — the subject of an extensive upcoming Spectator profile — related his views in his hometown of Stilwell, Oklahoma this past week, noting that DeSantis, his fellow congressional class of 2012 member, has struggled to connect with people and has limits to any personality-based approach to politics.

“Ron just isn’t charismatic, he doesn’t make you want to invite him to sit with you for a beer,” Senator Mullin said. The idea that DeSantis should wait his turn instead of trying to advance his prospects isn’t one that was applied to Trump himself, of course — who Mullin has enthusiastically endorsed in 2024. 

“Ron will be able to have a shot at this in four years,” Mullin told me, “but if he crashes and burns this cycle that won’t be another chance.”

Mullin echoed the critiques of many DeSantis skeptics, namely that he is too impersonal, struggles with personal charisma and will have problems translating his confrontational style to the national stage.

“I just think he’d be better off waiting,” Mullin said. Many of his fellow Trump supporters would agree.

My full profile of Senator Mullin will appear in the July 2023 magazine. Subscribe here now so you don’t miss it.