TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Republican donors at a gathering last week in Palm Beach County openly discussed the prospect of Casey DeSantis' running for governor in 2026, and for the first time, Florida’s first lady is seriously considering the idea.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, her husband, faces term limits and cannot seek re-election. There has long been speculation about whether Casey, a mainstay on the campaign trail for her husband, would herself one day run for office, but those plans seem to be coming closer to reality, five people directly familiar with the donor event and Casey DeSantis' thought process told NBC News.

“I would say this: I have heard donors have been urging her to run and that while it’s not something she has wanted to do, they are causing her to at least stop and listen,” a source familiar with her thinking said.

Casey DeSantis couldn’t be reached for comment for this article.

Her entrance into the 2026 Republican primary field, which isn't yet set, would have significant ripple effects across both the Florida and the national political landscapes, potentially setting up a proxy war between Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump.