Governors may make good presidents − unless they become 'imperial governors' like DeSantis

Of the eight Republicans on stage at the party's first presidential debate, six were current or former governors. Joshua Lott/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Many people believe governors make good presidents. In fact, a 2016 Gallup Poll found that almost 74% of people say that governing a state provides excellent or good preparation for someone to be an effective president. As a result, many political commentators have tried to explain why Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is stumbling in his campaign for president.

Some say it is because he is stiff or awkward on the campaign trail, or his path to the nomination is not really to the political right of former President Donald Trump, or he needs to step up and directly confront the former president.