One year ago, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) was the most exciting commodity in politics.

Fresh off a landslide reelection victory and newly sworn in to a second term as the governor of now-ruby-red Florida, DeSantis was widely viewed as the only person who had a viable shot to challenge and break former President Donald Trump’s ironclad support from Republican voters as the political calendar shifted toward the 2024 presidential race.