Republicans eye Florida's "Alligator People" for 2028

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is positioning himself for a presidential run. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is running away from the idea of his own campaign for the White House. Why it matters: The political posturing of the two Florida Republicans — or the efforts to draft either for 2028 — underscores the sudden volatility of the way-too-early GOP preprimary campaign to succeed President Trump . Before Tuesday's midterm Republican wipeout, the party's 2028 primary looked like a relatively easy coronation for Vice President Vance (if he runs, as expected). Now there's a nascent movement to kneecap Vance and promote other possible opponents. Zoom in: As Trump's home base, Florida was bound to take center stage in the conversation. But two things distinguish Florida from other states: DeSantis and Rubio have national profiles rooted in their own prior presidential campaigns, in 2024 and 20216, respectively. Florida was the lone red-wall state that the national blue wave couldn't top, which DeSantis has been happy to emphasize repeatedly since Tuesday. "The alligator people are stirring," said one national Republican consultant with extensive Florida experience, referring to the Sunshine State's official reptile. Zoom out: The differences between DeSantis and Rubio are vast when it comes to their political futures and styles. DeSantis is hungry. Rubio isn't. DeSantis terms-out of the governor's office in January and is looking for work. He hasn't made an official decision on whether to run for president — but he has stoked speculation with a media blitz that began with an Election Day appearance on Stephen A. Smith's podcast. Rubio repeatedly has said he plans to stay put in the Trump administration and serve out the rest of his term, until January 2029. He also said in May that he wouldn't run against Vance, and hasn't changed his position publicly. The intrigue: During the somber election watch party at the White House on Tuesday night, Rubio's phone "blew up" with sup