To the progress/liberal/Northen set, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is closely related to the Devil. President Biden called him "Trump incarnate." In this episode, I try to consider DeSantis from the Republican perspective, and find a politician who has bet on his own ideas repeatedly and come out ahead. Now he faces former Governor Charlie Crist in the governor's race, the first test of his seeming plans for the Whitehouse in 2024. 
Can DeSantis' contrarian take on coronavirus and the culture wars make him the leader of the modern conservative movement? 

Midterms 2022
Florida
Governor's race
Ron DeSantis 

Why can't Democrats win in Texas? Former Congressman Beto O'Rourke has been running for one office or another for years, first challenging Sen. Ted Cruz, then running for president, now challenging Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. But while O'Rourke comes close, he hasn't found a platform that can build a majority coalition in American's second-most-populous state. This episode considers why.

Midterms 2022
Texas governor's race
Beto O'Rourke
Greg Abbott

US Senator Raphael Warnock faces Republican challenger Hershel Walker in Georgia. As the South grows, this race could be a preview of future Democratic successes, building on the history of liberalism in the South. Or Walker could demonstrate that traditional Southern views can win even as Georgia urbanizes.

Midterms 2022
Georgia
Senate Race