If Trump doesn't run, who will the biggest challenger of DeSantis?

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Pence? Ted Cruz. Would someone else take the Trump mantle?

I can't imagine DeSantis would have a free pass to the nomination. And who would Trump endorse in such a case. What lanes would be there to be pursued. And would the primary be more open, or would it be more like 2016 Dems where nobody dares to challenges Ron?

[SnowLabrador]

Maybe Greg Abbott.

[Sir Mohamed]

Pence by default for now, until someone rises between now and mid/late 2023. That said, he won't come close to the nomination. Pence's political career is over.

[BlueSwan]

Honestly, it might be close to a coronation of DeSantis if Trump bows out without attacking DeSantis.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Possibly Tom Cotton, who's running already.

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/14/cotton-big-donors-2024-presidential-race-00039476

He's younger and more attractive than Pompeo, Rubio, and Haley who would put forth this sort of campaign. 

[Saint Milei]

cruz

[Medal506]

cruz

DeSantis is the new Ted Cruz. It will basically be a race between Cruz and Cruz 2.0

[Progressive Pessimist]

I can't see anything but token opposition from the likes of a Cheney, Christie, or Hogan maybe who go nowhere. 

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

DeSantis hasn't been reelected and D's are gonna blanket the airwaves when their primary is done , we are leading in the FL Sen race it's gonna be close in Gov race

D's are in fact still spending money on Act blue in OH, NC and FL where they cut their spending in IA and MO and TX already , just like Rs in AZ, PA, WI cut spending

[Senator-elect Spark]

Somebody to the left of DeSantis, probably Nikki Haley.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Firstly the Democrats can blanket the airwaves to their hearts content! Since this is the case, they fear DeSantis! Also DeSantis has a united Republican party behind him, whilst the Democrats are fractured. Now as for 2024, Pence is done, the Trump base would support DeSantis under these circumstances. DeSantis will be the George W. Bush of 2024, greatly underestimated as was Bush in 2000. Once DeSantis has dispatched whoever is his Democratic opponent in 2022, he will begin to focus on the so-called "Money Primary 💰 " in 2023. And will participate in the various straw-polls throughout that year. Also whilst Democrats and the Liberal elite and beltway Democrats dismiss DeSantis and his anti-woke standpoint, he is probably onto something, or he wouldn't be taking the stances he has taken. As for Trump, he has a multitude of legal problems that are only going to intensify as 2022 rolls into 2023. As for the January 6th hearings! I can't imagine that DeSantis won't roll out campaign ads condemning Democrat overreach and if Trump who is known for his lack of audacity is a problem, DeSantis will merely reconfigure his message to hurt Trump. I can imagine that Biden will likely wait until next Summer to possibly bow out of a potential 2024 run. The Democrats will likely descend into a chaotic free for all. Harris won't get a free ride.
My prediction is this (and I stand to be corrected) is that DeSantis will get the Republican party's presidential nod and will likely go with either Nikki Haley or Tim Scott for Veep. As for the Democrats, it will be Harris who emerges as the nominee, but not without a fight. She will likely go with either Chris Murphy of Connecticut or Gary Peters of Michigan. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess!

[President Johnson]

Pence by default for now, until someone rises between now and mid/late 2023. That said, he won't come close to the nomination. Pence's political career is over.

This. I'm surprised nobody else mentioned Pence.

[Del Tachi]

Pence and/or Cruz.

[Cassandra]

Some self-involved rich guy absolutely nobody is talking about will throw his hat in the ring if Trump doesn't run. Ken Griffin maybe, just to make the SuperStonk bros furious.

[Sir Mohamed]

Glenn Youngkin

If Pence flops early, this is certainly a possibility. Youngkin may be a good VP for DeSantis later on. Both are "Trump lite" in terms of policies and Youngkin would also reassure the establishment while he'd still introduce himself as "DC outsider".

[Mister Mets]

There are a few ways it can go.

It could be that someone in the establishment (Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Nikki Haley) who was in the Trump administration takes off.

It could also be someone who speaks more to MAGA id. That could get more of the establishment on DeDantis' side.

[brucejoel99]

With presumed support like this, Pence by default:

https://twitter.com/kellyo/status/1560710766201868288

[MargieCat]

I could see Tim Scott being a formidable challenger.

Maybe someone like Kristi Noem.

I could see Trump endorsing against DeSantis out of spite.