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Neither Ron DeSantis nor Rishi Sunak has a future career in audiobook narration after retirement. DeSantis has a monotonous and nagging voice, while Sunak sounds adenoidal. One could argue that people are not only defined by their looks but also by their voices. Considering this, it’s quite miraculous that both have achieved success in their respective roles as the Florida governor and the occupant of 10 Downing Street. Americans of a certain age would label one as a Poindexter, while older Brits would see the other as a swot.
And they would be correct. Both DeSantis and Sunak are diligent individuals who have excelled in exams and accumulated credentials. They are family-oriented and have emerged from established institutions, which goes against the grain of modern conservatism. DeSantis is a product of the Ivy League and the US Navy, while Sunak’s path led him through Stanford, Goldman Sachs, and Her Majesty’s Treasury.
The similarities continue. Sunak played a role in Boris Johnson’s downfall as UK prime minister, while DeSantis is challenging Donald Trump for the Republican nomination in the next US presidential election and openly acknowledging Trump’s failure to win the previous one. This has irked diehard supporters of both fallen leaders who see DeSantis and Sunak as snitches.
Compared to DeSantis, Sunak has a more pleasant demeanor and could light up a stage. He also demonstrates stronger support for Ukraine. However, both politicians internally grapple with the same “conflict” recognized by Freudians. Despite accumulating establishment credentials throughout their lives, they now align with movements that perceive themselves as almost revolutionary. Their outward awkwardness stems, in part, from navigating between these contrasting mental worlds. While Trump and Johnson are genuine nihilists, DeSantis and Sunak are simply very conservative. In their attempts to appear otherwise, they come across as nerds trying to portray themselves as popular figures.
The conservative grassroots are wary of this dissonance, but they may not have any other choice. This brings us to the ultimate parallel between Sunak and DeSantis. Both still have a chance to succeed in their electoral tests in 2024. I’ve previously argued that Sunak is undervalued (although still unlikely) to remain prime minister. This claim is supported by the limitations of voting-intention polls this far ahead of an election, the competitiveness of Sunak’s personal ratings compared to the Labour party leader, and the historical rarity of Britain leaning left when it’s not in a positive state of mind, whether due to postwar demobilization (1945), cultural renewal (the mid-1960s), or economic boom (1997).
However, it’s also worth acknowledging DeSantis’ potential. While Trump is the clear favorite, a £10 bet on him becoming the Republican candidate would only result in a payout of a little over £13. In contrast, a wager on DeSantis would yield £80. Despite being a 77-year-old facing numerous criminal charges, including “Conspiracy to defraud the United States,” Trump’s margin of support still leaves room for uncertainty. History shows that sticking it out is a crucial part of becoming the president. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were not leading the primaries at the start of 1992 and 2008, respectively. Trump himself didn’t emerge as the frontrunner among Republicans until November 2015. If unforeseen events occur, DeSantis is still in the race.
If either DeSantis or Sunak faces the general electorate, they will paradoxically benefit from the men they defeated. Trump and Johnson are known for their extreme tactics, which allows other candidates to adopt fierce ideologies without appearing extreme themselves. As long as conservative politicians adhere to the law and respect the constitutional order, they can embrace more assertive policies and rhetoric than swing voters might have tolerated a decade ago. (Remember that Mitt Romney was considered a hardliner in 2012.)
Sunak implemented a well-intentioned but risky subsidy to support dining out during the pre-vaccine phase of the pandemic. DeSantis, on the other hand, often engages in cultural battles, some of which are justified, while others are simply draining. Nevertheless, compared to recent leaders of their respective parties, both men come across as at least house-trained. Being “rightwing, but not feral” is now seen as commendable. Political scientists would argue that the window of acceptable ideas has broadened, or in simpler terms, voters appreciate small mercies.
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