Not so long ago, I thought a Ron DeSantis presidency would be more harmful than a Donald Trump presidency. Demagogue DeSantis struck me (unlike Trump) as competent and calculating in his ruthlessness, even if he lacked charisma. As governor of Florida, he has proved adept at manipulating and politicising the state bureaucracy.
DeSantis has filled key roles with right-wing culture warriors loyal to him, crafted biased reports full of disinformation with the help of right-wing consultants (many of whom share his Catholic faith), and stacked what should be non-partisan bodies to achieve partisan ends, as he did with the the state’s Board of Medicine to achieve a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.
However, as his presidential campaign flags, I find it less and less likely that he would be able to replicate at federal level the damage he’s done to Florida’s state machinery. Don’t get me wrong: a DeSantis presidency would be a disaster for members of marginalised groups including women, African Americans and LGBTIQ people. But I worry that a second Donald Trump presidency could ultimately prove even more destructive. If Trump wins the 2024 election, anything resembling functional democratic politics and the rule of law in US life will be gone at the federal level for the foreseeable future.
