Florida Governor Ron DeSantis denied on Friday, November 6, 2026, that he is preparing to run for president in 2028, rejecting a Washington Post report that said he was laying the groundwork for a second White House bid. The report, citing three people briefed on his plans, said DeSantis had reached out to at least one national political consultant and that his federal super PAC had sent out a fundraising text this week. DeSantis answered hours later on X, calling the story "fabricated out of whole cloth" and "a pathetic attempt to garner clicks". "I have not reached out to anybody about running for anything," he wrote. The DeSantis 2028 presidential run report landed three days after a bruising midterm election for Republicans, in which Florida was one of the few states where the party mostly held its ground.

Key Points

• The Washington Post reported on Friday, November 6, 2026, citing three people briefed on his plans, that Governor Ron DeSantis is preparing to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028.
• The Post said DeSantis had reached out to at least one national political consultant and that his federal super PAC sent out a fundraising text this week.
• DeSantis responded on X on Friday evening, calling the report "fabricated out of whole cloth" and "a pathetic attempt to garner clicks".
• He told CNN's Jake Tapper he would be "a free man come Jan. 5th", the day his term as governor ends, and that he "hasn't planned anything".
• DeSantis, 48, leaves office on January 5, 2027, when governor-elect Byron Donalds is sworn in.

What Happened

The Washington Post published its report on Friday, November 6, saying DeSantis was preparing a run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028. The newspaper cited three people briefed on his plans and pointed to two steps it described as early signs of a campaign taking shape: outreach to at least one national political consultant, and a fundraising text sent out this week by his federal super PAC.

DeSantis pushed back the same evening. In a post on X, he called the report "fabricated out of whole cloth" and "a pathetic attempt to garner clicks", and said plainly: "I have not reached out to anybody about running for anything." He closed the post with a jab at the newspaper itself: "Friends don't let friends read the Washington Post." He struck a similar note with CNN's Jake Tapper, saying he would be "a free man come Jan. 5th", the day his second term as governor ends, and that he "hasn't planned anything" for what comes next.

Background and Context

DeSantis is no stranger to presidential speculation. He ran for the Republican nomination in 2024, entering the race as the most serious challenger to Donald Trump, and finished second in the Iowa caucuses about 30 points behind Trump before dropping out. That campaign ended quickly, but it left him with a national donor network and a profile far beyond Florida. Since then he has governed a state that has become the clearest Republican success story in the country, winning re-election in 2022 by a wide margin.

The timing of the Post report matters. The November 3 midterms were a rout for Democrats, who won the House and the Senate, and DeSantis himself described the losses as "close to an extinction-level event for Republicans". Florida stood out as an exception, and DeSantis noted that it is the only one of the 10 largest states still run by a Republican governor.

DeSantis 2028: What the Report Claimed and What He Said

The heart of the Post report was its claim that DeSantis had taken concrete early steps toward a 2028 campaign. The newspaper said he had reached out to at least one national political consultant about working on a campaign. It also pointed to a fundraising text sent out this week by his federal super PAC, which people close to him read as a signal of intent. The Post cited three people briefed on his plans, but did not name them.

DeSantis rejected every part of that account. His statement on X was unusually blunt, even for a politician known for sharp attacks on the press: the report was "fabricated out of whole cloth", he said, and he had not contacted anyone about running for anything. His remark to CNN that he would be "a free man come Jan. 5th" underlined the point that his focus, for now, is the end of his governorship rather than the start of a campaign. He leaves office on January 5, 2027, when governor-elect Byron Donalds takes over.

Reactions and Quotes

DeSantis's own words are the clearest reaction so far. "I have not reached out to anybody about running for anything," he wrote on X, a direct denial of the report's central claim. He called the story "a pathetic attempt to garner clicks", and added the line that drew the most attention online: "Friends don't let friends read the Washington Post." In his CNN interview with Jake Tapper, he was more measured but no less clear, saying he would be "a free man come Jan. 5th" and that he "hasn't planned anything".

Why It Matters

The 2028 Republican field is wide open, and DeSantis remains one of the best-known names in the party. He is 48, has won two statewide races in the country's third-largest state, and commands a donor base built during his 2024 run. If he were to run, he would start as a leading contender; if he does not, his endorsement and his political network would still matter enormously to whoever does. That is why a report about his intentions, and his forceful denial of it, moves the conversation even two years before the first primary votes.

What Happens Next

For now, DeSantis's calendar is set: he remains governor until January 5, 2027, when Byron Donalds is sworn in as his successor. After that, he says, he will be a free man, with no plans made. That leaves the door open without committing to anything, a familiar posture for a politician a little more than a year from leaving office and more than two years from the next presidential primary season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ron DeSantis running for president in 2028?
DeSantis says he is not. He denied a Washington Post report on November 6, 2026 that said he was preparing a run, calling it "fabricated out of whole cloth".

What did the Washington Post report say?
The Post reported, citing three people briefed on his plans, that DeSantis had reached out to at least one national political consultant and that his federal super PAC sent out a fundraising text this week.

When does DeSantis leave office as Florida governor?
His term ends on January 5, 2027, when governor-elect Byron Donalds is sworn in.

Did DeSantis run for president before?
Yes. He ran for the Republican nomination in 2024, finishing second in the Iowa caucuses about 30 points behind Donald Trump before dropping out of the race.

Related Coverage

Related: Byron Donalds wins Florida governor race, DeSantis calls midterms 'close to an extinction-level event' and Ashley Moody wins Florida Senate seat.