<p class="speakable">The Fox News Decision Desk projects GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis will defeat Charlie Crist to secure another term as the Sunshine State's chief executive.&nbsp;</p> <p class="speakable">DeSantis, a former three-term congressman who was narrowly elected governor in 2018, has seen his popularity soar among&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/us-regions/southeast/florida" _mce_href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/us-regions/southeast/florida" target="_blank">conservatives in Florida</a>&nbsp;and across the country the past two and a half years, courtesy of his forceful pushback against coronavirus pandemic restrictions and his aggressive actions as a culture wars warrior.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/person/ron-desantis" _mce_href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/person/ron-desantis" target="_blank">DeSantis grabbed more national attention</a>&nbsp;and sparked new controversy in recent months by flying migrants from Texas to the progressive bastion of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts this summer, spotlighting his tough stance on the issue of illegal immigration.</p> <p>While DeSantis has repeatedly deflected talk of a potential 2024 White House run, his re-election will further fuel buzz by political pundits that the conservative governor is gearing up for a bid for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/politics/elections/republicans" _mce_href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/politics/elections/republicans" target="_blank">Republican presidential nomination</a>.</p>