By Ron DeSantis standards, it was a pretty low-key week.

The Florida governor, known for engaging in dramatic culture wars, paused his presidential campaign to prepare for Hurricane Idalia. In the midst of the storm, former President Donald Trump floated a rumor that DeSantis would soon be ending his White House campaign to challenge Rick Scott for U.S. Senate. 

Coincidentally, it was Scott standing in for DeSantis during President Joe Biden’s visit to survey the damage from Idalia. DeSantis said “security precautions” prevented him from meeting with Biden.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a rival for the GOP nomination, wasn’t buying it. Christie said DeSantis was playing politics with the storm and should have been there to ensure Biden got a proper tour of hard hit areas. 

Meanwhile, DeSantis continues to drift further away from Trump in the polls. The latest Wall Street Journal poll has Trump with 59% to 13% for DeSantis. The rest of the field is in single digits.

Another blow came from the bench as a judge ordered a redrawing of a North Florida congressional district that Republicans crafted to eliminate a predominantly Black district. 

“Ron’s racist congressional map was an affront to democracy and could never be allowed to stand,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried.