Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivered a stark warning to Republicans on Wednesday, describing the party’s sweeping midterm election losses as “close to an extinction level event” after Democrats regained control of both the House and Senate while flipping key state races.
Speaking at a press conference in Tallahassee, DeSantis pointed to Texas—long considered a Republican stronghold—as a catastrophic loss for the GOP. Democrats not only won the U.S. Senate race with James Talarico defeating the Republican incumbent, but also ousted Gov. Greg Abbott in favor of Democratic State Rep. Gina Hinojosa. The party further lost multiple statewide offices and saw Republican majorities on the Texas Supreme Court collapse.
‘The Crown Jewel of Republican Politics’ Falls
“Texas has been the crown jewel of Republican politics,” DeSantis said. “If the Republican Party doesn’t have Texas as an anchor, we are not going to be viable nationally going forward.” He emphasized that the losses could have long-term consequences, potentially reshaping the political landscape for a decade or more.
DeSantis noted that after the election, only Florida among the nation’s 10 largest states will remain under full Republican control. “This is close to an extinction level event for Republicans in many parts of the country,” he said.
GOP Infighting Begins as Pollsters Point to Voter Anger
Vice President JD Vance echoed concerns about the party’s struggles, sharing on social media that internal polling had shown significant defections among Trump-Vance 2024 voters. According to Vance, a top Republican data analyst warned that many former supporters were “pissed and planning to vote for the other guys.”
One pollster reportedly told Vance that the GOP was on track to lose the generic ballot by 13 points, with disaffected voters citing frustration over economic messaging, foreign policy, and inflation as key reasons for abandoning the party. “End the war, focus on cost of living, put America first, and change our relationship to Israel” were the top demands from disillusioned conservatives.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump expressed surprise at the poor Republican performance during an appearance on Fox News’ election coverage, though he did not elaborate on potential causes.
As the GOP grapples with the fallout, DeSantis’ dire assessment underscores a party in crisis—one now forced to confront whether it can recover before the next major electoral test.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/midterm-election/2026/11/04/desantis-republicans-election-wipeout-is-close-extinction-level-event/