<p><img src="/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/12/22/USAT/77152103007-xxx-20240716-aps-dy-8-542.JPG?crop=5993,3371,x0,y306&width=660&height=371&format=pjpg&auto=webp" width="100%" /><p>Republican governors are entering a delicate political climate. They must choose between two paths: following President-elect Donald Trump blindly or charting their own course through the next four years.</p><p>Ideally, every governor will do what is best for their own state, but anyone with an ounce of civic education knows that is far from the case. Politicians are almost always concerned with maintaining their power above all else. Trump and his brand of politics could be the reason members of his party lose power.</p><p>Many Republican governors will choose to bend their knees for the sake of their political careers, but a rare few will extend their longevity by defying Trump. Even before Trump takes office next month, governors like Ron DeSantis in Florida already face this dilemma.</p><img width="100%" /><h2>DeSantis, other GOP governors must know when to resist Trump</h2><p>Republican governors under Trump will have to manage when to put their foot down against him. Do it too often, and they will be fighting in a primary race against a Trump-endorsed challenger. Do it too rarely, and they will allow Trump to guide the direction of their state from the White House. </p><p><span>Trump is known for favoring loyalty, especially that of his family, over qualifications when it comes to filling political positions. He tried to fill the seat left by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/12/14/lara-trump-senate-desantis-rubio-seat/">by pressuring DeSantis</a> to select his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.</span> But Saturday, she <a href="/story/news/politics/elections/2024/12/21/lara-trump-us-senate-florida-marco-rubio/77138510007/">removed her name from consideration</a><strong>,</strong> presumably because it was clear she would not be the choice.</p><img width="100%" /><p>Reports indicated that DeSantis was reluctant to select her for office because she <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/12/14/lara-trump-senate-desantis-rubio-seat/">has not held public office in Florida</a>.</p><p>Rubio has been a point of stability in Florida politics, and his departure to be Trump's secretary of State would upend that. It makes sense that DeSantis would want to make the safe choice rather than introduce another Trump into the mix.</p><p><strong>Opinion:</strong><a href="/story/opinion/columnist/2024/12/11/trump-cabinet-picks-confirmation-republican-senators/76863354007/">Republican Senate can prove Democrats wrong by rejecting Trump's ridiculous Cabinet</a></p><p>DeSantis has been one of the few Republican governors to make a name for himself while Trump was away from the White House, and he would be wise to continue his strong leadership of Florida regardless of the future president's direction. His choice to promote what he believes is best for his state rather than simply what Trump does is admirable and can be an example for other governors.</p><p>Trump values loyalty above all else, and defiance on any small issue is seen as a complete betrayal. GOP governors have to consider that even small disagreements with him can result in a primary challenge – with the full weight of MAGA behind it.</p><p><strong>Opinion:</strong><a href="/story/opinion/columnist/2024/12/16/trump-revenge-enemies-republicans-stop-retribution/76952888007/">Trump can't run again in 2028. Republicans need to act like it.</a></p><p>Trump is looking for loyalty and has succeeded in getting that from many governors: <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dozens-republican-governors-pledge-work-trump-mass-deportations-we-stand-united">26 Republican governors have already pledged</a> their commitment to assisting Trump’s plan for mass deportations of illegal immigrants, publicly pledging their support on an issue where he requires strong state cooperation. </p><p>Trump requires buy-in from the states in order to get parts of his ambitious agenda done, and these instances will be the ultimate test of those governors' devotion. In this case, they have broadly cooperated, but future policies from his administration could more severely test that commitment.</p><h2>Governors who resist Trump will face retaliation. That's not a bad thing.</h2><img width="100%" /><p>Trump has a shaky history with GOP governors who refuse to bend the knee. State Republicans who have broken with him have become the targets.</p><p>Namely, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has sustained a flurry of MAGA attacks following his refusal to <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/10/28/nx-s1-5168017/2024-election-georgia-donald-trump-brian-kemp">assist Trump in stealing the 2020 election</a>. </p><p>However, Kemp has shown that steadfast conservative leadership that is free of Trump's direction can strengthen political appeal. <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/05/24/1100739768/georgia-trump-kemp-perdue-abrams-primary-election-lies">Kemp was even able <span>to defeat</span></a><span> his Trump-endorsed primary challenger in 2022</span>.</p><p>Swing-state GOP governors are much more likely to benefit from resisting Trump and also more likely to survive primary challenges from a MAGA-endorsed candidate. These decisions become more complex in deeper red states where the MAGA movement has more sway. </p><p>Governors ought to be weary after seeing the blowback that those who have defied Trump received, but in some cases, it builds a stronger political foundation than those who simply bent the knee.</p><p>Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY and a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science.</p></p>
Republican governors are entering a delicate political climate. They must choose between two paths: following President-elect Donald Trump blindly or charting their own course through the next four years.
Ideally, every governor will do what is best for their own state, but anyone with an ounce of civic education knows that is far from the case. Politicians are almost always concerned with maintaining their power above all else. Trump and his brand of politics could be the reason members of his party lose power.
Many Republican governors will choose to bend their knees for the sake of their political careers, but a rare few will extend their longevity by defying Trump. Even before Trump takes office next month, governors like Ron DeSantis in Florida already face this dilemma.
![]()
DeSantis, other GOP governors must know when to resist Trump
Republican governors under Trump will have to manage when to put their foot down against him. Do it too often, and they will be fighting in a primary race against a Trump-endorsed challenger. Do it too rarely, and they will allow Trump to guide the direction of their state from the White House.
Trump is known for favoring loyalty, especially that of his family, over qualifications when it comes to filling political positions. He tried to fill the seat left by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., by pressuring DeSantis to select his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump. But Saturday, she removed her name from consideration, presumably because it was clear she would not be the choice.
![]()
Reports indicated that DeSantis was reluctant to select her for office because she has not held public office in Florida.
Rubio has been a point of stability in Florida politics, and his departure to be Trump's secretary of State would upend that. It makes sense that DeSantis would want to make the safe choice rather than introduce another Trump into the mix.
Opinion:Republican Senate can prove Democrats wrong by rejecting Trump's ridiculous Cabinet
DeSantis has been one of the few Republican governors to make a name for himself while Trump was away from the White House, and he would be wise to continue his strong leadership of Florida regardless of the future president's direction. His choice to promote what he believes is best for his state rather than simply what Trump does is admirable and can be an example for other governors.
Trump values loyalty above all else, and defiance on any small issue is seen as a complete betrayal. GOP governors have to consider that even small disagreements with him can result in a primary challenge – with the full weight of MAGA behind it.
Opinion:Trump can't run again in 2028. Republicans need to act like it.
Trump is looking for loyalty and has succeeded in getting that from many governors: 26 Republican governors have already pledged their commitment to assisting Trump’s plan for mass deportations of illegal immigrants, publicly pledging their support on an issue where he requires strong state cooperation.
Trump requires buy-in from the states in order to get parts of his ambitious agenda done, and these instances will be the ultimate test of those governors' devotion. In this case, they have broadly cooperated, but future policies from his administration could more severely test that commitment.
Governors who resist Trump will face retaliation. That's not a bad thing.
![]()
Trump has a shaky history with GOP governors who refuse to bend the knee. State Republicans who have broken with him have become the targets.
Namely, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has sustained a flurry of MAGA attacks following his refusal to assist Trump in stealing the 2020 election.
However, Kemp has shown that steadfast conservative leadership that is free of Trump's direction can strengthen political appeal. Kemp was even able to defeat his Trump-endorsed primary challenger in 2022.
Swing-state GOP governors are much more likely to benefit from resisting Trump and also more likely to survive primary challenges from a MAGA-endorsed candidate. These decisions become more complex in deeper red states where the MAGA movement has more sway.
Governors ought to be weary after seeing the blowback that those who have defied Trump received, but in some cases, it builds a stronger political foundation than those who simply bent the knee.
Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY and a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science.
