We Asked Them to Choose Between Two Conservative Giants… And Got the Most Unified “BOTH” Response Ever! (Plus What Their Records Actually Show)
THE QUESTION THAT REFUSED TO DIVIDE
“Best conservative governor: Abbott or DeSantis?”
This question was designed to force a choice. Two conservative superstars. Two massive red states. Two potential presidential candidates. Pick one.
What we got was OVERWHELMING refusal to choose.
Out of approximately 50 responses, at least 40+ said “BOTH” or “tie” or “equally great.” Maybe 3-4 picked DeSantis. Zero picked Abbott alone. A handful said “neither.”
This is 80%+ refusing to choose. Insisting BOTH are equally great. This might be the most unified response we’ve seen on ANY question.
Why? Because conservatives recognize they have TWO champion governors fighting the same battles. Dividing them serves no purpose. Unity matters more than ranking.
THE “BOTH” CONSENSUS
The Tie Declarations
“It’s a tie” (mentioned at least 5+ times)
“Both equally”
“Both are great!” (mentioned at least 10+ times)
“BOTH!!” / “Both!!!!” / “Both!!!!!”
“Love em both”
“I like them both”
“Like both of them”
At least 40 responses refused to choose, declaring both equally great.
This isn’t reluctant compromise. This is emphatic celebration of BOTH governors.
The Enthusiastic Praise
“They’re both great conservative governors who do everything possible for their states”
“Both are the greatest. No one like them two. Gid Bless Both. No one is better than the other. Period”
“Both are good gov”
“THERE BOTH GREAT”
“Both are awesome”
“THEY ARE BOTH THE BEST !!!”
“BOTH ARE THE BEST OF ALL”
“The two men are the best”
The language is unqualified. Not “both are pretty good” but “BOTH ARE THE BEST.” Superlatives for both, no hedging.
The Respect Across State Lines
“Orlando Ruiz: Both are great governors, I live in Florida but have to give Abbott his due respect !!”
This is KEY. Florida resident praising Abbott. Refusing to claim DeSantis is better just because he’s their governor. That’s intellectual honesty and conservative solidarity.
The Values Framing
“Both amen upholding Christian values and showing how godly men should act”
“Both are good and both are patriots and they put america rirst” [sic – America first]
“Both of them are great men that loves america and the rule of law vote red”
The praise isn’t just about policy. It’s about CHARACTER, VALUES, and PRIORITIES. Both fight for conservative principles. Both love America. Both deserve respect.
THE RARE DISSENT
The DeSantis-Only Votes
“Descantis without a doubt”
“De santis.”
“I’ll have to go with Ron”
Maybe 3-4 responses picked DeSantis over Abbott. This represents less than 10% of responses.
Notable: ZERO responses picked Abbott alone. Every single Abbott supporter ALSO praised DeSantis.
The “Neither” Camp
“Neither- Kemp is the best”
“Neither one”
“Neither!”
About 3 responses said “neither,” with one specifically naming Georgia’s Brian Kemp as superior.
This represents conservative recognition that other governors (Kemp, Sanders in Arkansas, Noem in South Dakota) also deserve consideration.
GREG ABBOTT’S RECORD: THE TEXAS TITAN
Border Security Leadership
Abbott’s defining issue: SECURING THE BORDER
Operation Lone Star:
Launched March 2021 as Texas’ own border security operation:
- Deployed Texas National Guard (10,000+ troops)
- Installed razor wire barriers along Rio Grande
- Bused 100,000+ migrants to sanctuary cities
- Arrested 500,000+ illegal border crossers
- Seized 400+ million lethal fentanyl doses
Cost: $11+ billion (Texas taxpayer funded)
Impact:
Border crossings in Texas sectors DECLINED significantly compared to other border states. Abbott’s aggressive enforcement deterred crossings.
The migrant busing to sanctuary cities (NYC, Chicago, DC, Denver) was BRILLIANT political strategy. Forced Democrats to confront consequences of their open border policies. Suddenly sanctuary city mayors were BEGGING for help and complaining about “crisis.”
Legal battles:
Biden administration sued Texas repeatedly for border barriers. Abbott FOUGHT BACK. Supreme Court battles ongoing. Abbott refused to back down even when federal courts ruled against him.
Assessment: Abbott made border security his signature issue and DELIVERED results despite federal government opposition.
Constitutional Carry
Texas passed constitutional carry in 2021 under Abbott. No permit needed to carry handgun.
This was HUGE for Second Amendment advocates. Texas joined 20+ states allowing permitless carry.
Why it matters: Expands gun rights to maximum degree. Removes government permission requirement for constitutional right.
Abortion Law
Texas heartbeat bill (2021) banned abortions after fetal heartbeat detected (~6 weeks). Most restrictive abortion law in nation at the time.
The innovative enforcement: Private citizens could sue anyone performing or “aiding” abortion. This bypassed federal court challenges because government wasn’t enforcing it.
After Dobbs overturned Roe, Texas implemented near-total abortion ban with limited exceptions.
Conservative assessment: Abbott delivered on pro-life promises. Made Texas most pro-life state.
Criticism: Even some conservatives worried about rape/incest exceptions and medical emergencies. Some mothers with non-viable pregnancies forced to carry to term or leave state.
Election Integrity
Abbott signed election integrity law (2021):
- Banned drive-through voting
- Restricted mail-in ballot drop boxes
- Required ID for mail-in voting
- Increased penalties for election fraud
- Added observer access
Conservative view: Necessary reforms to prevent fraud.
Liberal view: Voter suppression targeting minorities and urban areas.
Result: Texas elections more secure (conservatives argue) or more restrictive (liberals argue).
COVID Response
Abbott’s COVID response was MIXED:
Early (2020): Strict lockdowns, mask mandates, business closures
Later (2021): Among first governors to fully reopen, banned mask mandates, banned vaccine mandates
Assessment:
Conservatives criticized early strictness but praised later resistance to federal mandates. Abbott evolved from cautious to liberty-focused as data showed COVID less deadly than feared.
Business Climate
Texas added 1.5+ MILLION jobs under Abbott. Companies fleeing California for Texas (Tesla, Oracle, HP, others).
Why?
- No state income tax
- Business-friendly regulations
- Lower costs
- Reliable energy (usually – see below)
- Less government interference
Result: Texas economy BOOMING. Population growing faster than almost any state.
The Winter Storm Failure (2021)
This is Abbott’s biggest FAILURE.
February 2021 winter storm caused statewide power grid collapse. Millions without power for days. At least 246 dead. Tens of billions in damage.
The problem: Texas has independent power grid (ERCOT) not connected to national grid. When demand surged and supply froze (natural gas plants, wind turbines), grid collapsed.
Abbott’s response:
Initially blamed renewable energy (windmills freezing). This was PARTIAL truth – wind did underperform, but natural gas failures were larger problem.
Later acknowledged broader failures. Pushed legislation requiring weatherization.
But: No one was held accountable. ERCOT leadership resigned but faced no consequences. Utilities that failed got rate increases to pay for improvements.
Conservative assessment: This was government failure at multiple levels. Abbott shares blame for not fixing known vulnerabilities before crisis.
The Grade
Abbott’s Record: B+
Strengths:
- Border security leadership (A)
- Gun rights expansion (A)
- Pro-life victories (A)
- Election integrity (A)
- Economic growth (A)
- Business climate (A)
- COVID pivot to freedom (B)
Weaknesses:
- Winter storm disaster (F)
- Early COVID overreach (C)
- Property taxes still high (C)
- Some conservatives want more aggressive action
Overall: Strong conservative governor who delivers on most priorities. Border security leadership is nationally significant. Winter storm is major black mark.
RON DESANTIS’S RECORD: THE FLORIDA FIGHTER
COVID Response Excellence
DeSantis’s defining achievement: BEST COVID RESPONSE IN NATION
What DeSantis did:
- Kept Florida OPEN when other states locked down
- Protected elderly in nursing homes
- Kept schools open (kids in person)
- Banned vaccine mandates
- Banned mask mandates
- Allowed businesses to operate freely
- Let individuals make own health choices
The results:
Florida’s COVID death rate was MIDDLE OF THE PACK despite:
- Oldest population in nation (most vulnerable)
- Massive population density
- Tourism industry bringing visitors from everywhere
Florida had BETTER outcomes than locked-down states like New York and California while preserving freedom and economy.
The media attacked him RELENTLESSLY: “DeathSantis,” “Florida is disaster,” “blood on his hands.”
He was RIGHT. They were WRONG.
Florida thrived while locked-down states suffered economically AND had similar or worse health outcomes.
Assessment: This was LEADERSHIP. Standing firm against media, experts, and federal pressure. History proved him correct. This is A+ governing.
Anti-Woke Crusader
DeSantis made fighting woke ideology his signature issue:
Parental Rights in Education (“Don’t Say Gay”):
Banned classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for K-3rd grade. Required parental notification for student’s gender changes.
Why it matters: Parents have RIGHT to control when/how their young children learn about sexuality. Schools were introducing gender ideology to kindergarteners without parental knowledge.
Media attack: Called it “Don’t Say Gay” law (misleading – it didn’t ban word “gay,” it banned instruction on sexuality to young kids).
Result: Other states copied Florida’s law. DeSantis shifted national conversation.
Stop WOKE Act:
Banned mandatory DEI training in workplaces and critical race theory in schools.
Why it matters: CRT teaches kids to see everything through racial lens. Divides rather than unites. Tells white kids they’re oppressors, black kids they’re victims.
Result: Made Florida leader in fighting racial division disguised as education.
Disney Battle:
When Disney opposed Parental Rights law, DeSantis FOUGHT BACK. Removed Disney’s special tax district (Reedy Creek).
Conservative reaction: LOVED IT. Finally, a Republican who fights corporations when they go woke. No more “nice guy” conservatism that lets corporations attack conservative values.
Outcome: Disney sued. Battle ongoing. But DeSantis showed willingness to use government power against woke corporations.
Border Response
Florida doesn’t have international border, but DeSantis still acted:
- Sent Florida National Guard to Texas to help Abbott
- Transported migrants to Martha’s Vineyard (liberal enclave)
- Banned sanctuary cities in Florida
- Required E-Verify for employers
- Increased penalties for human smuggling
The Martha’s Vineyard move was GENIUS: Sent 50 migrants to wealthy liberal island. Liberals declared “humanitarian crisis” and removed them within 48 hours. Exposed liberal hypocrisy perfectly.
Election Integrity
DeSantis created election crimes unit, arrested 20 people for voter fraud (mostly felons who voted illegally).
Impact: Sent message that Florida takes election fraud seriously. Critics argued it was voter intimidation.
Banned ballot harvesting, restricted drop boxes, required signature verification.
Result: Florida elections now considered among most secure and efficient in nation (results same night, few problems).
Education Reform
School choice expansion:
Made Florida #1 state for school choice. Parents can use education dollars at private schools, charter schools, homeschooling.
Why it matters: Breaks public school monopoly. Gives poor families same choices rich families have.
Teachers union sued. DeSantis won.
Book challenges:
Supported parents challenging sexually explicit books in school libraries. Media portrayed this as “book banning.” Reality: removing pornographic material from elementary schools.
Economic Performance
Florida added 1+ MILLION jobs under DeSantis. Became #1 destination for Americans fleeing high-tax blue states.
Why?
- No state income tax (like Texas)
- Lower costs than California/New York
- Business-friendly environment
- Quality of life (beaches, weather)
- Freedom-focused governance
Companies relocating: Financial firms, tech companies, individuals with remote work options.
Result: Florida economy BOOMING even faster than Texas.
Criminal Justice
DeSantis increased penalties for rioting (post-2020), protected drivers who hit rioters blocking roads (if accidental), expanded Stand Your Ground.
Conservative view: Finally protecting law-abiding citizens from mob violence.
Liberal view: Overreach targeting BLM protests.
The Weaknesses
Presidential campaign failure:
DeSantis ran for president in 2024. Campaign was DISASTER. Dropped out early. Bad retail politics. Came across as robotic. Trump dominated him.
Conservative disappointment: Many thought DeSantis would be Trump alternative. He wasn’t ready or Trump was too strong.
Property insurance crisis:
Florida has property insurance crisis. Companies leaving state. Rates skyrocketing. DeSantis hasn’t solved it (though it’s difficult problem).
Abortion:
DeSantis signed 6-week abortion ban. Even many conservatives think this is too restrictive (most women don’t know they’re pregnant at 6 weeks).
Disney overreach?:
Some conservatives worried DeSantis using government power against Disney sets bad precedent. What if Democrats use same tactics against conservative companies?
The Grade
DeSantis’s Record: A
Strengths:
- COVID response (A+)
- Anti-woke leadership (A+)
- Parental rights (A)
- School choice (A)
- Economic growth (A)
- Election integrity (A)
- National conservative leadership (A)
Weaknesses:
- Presidential campaign failure (F)
- Property insurance unsolved (C)
- Some conservatives want less Disney-style overreach
- 6-week abortion ban controversial even among conservatives
Overall: Exceptional conservative governor who delivers on culture war battles. COVID response alone makes him top-tier. Anti-woke crusade shifted national politics.
THE DIRECT COMPARISON
Who’s Better on Border?
Winner: ABBOTT
Abbott has actual international border. DeSantis doesn’t. Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, razor wire, migrant busing—all nationally significant.
DeSantis helped with troops and Martha’s Vineyard stunt, but Abbott is THE border governor.
Who’s Better on COVID?
Winner: DESANTIS
DeSantis was RIGHT from beginning. Kept Florida open. Protected freedom. Had good outcomes. Became national model.
Abbott locked down initially, then opened. Better than most governors but not as good as DeSantis.
Who’s Better on Culture War?
Winner: DESANTIS
DeSantis made anti-woke fight his signature. Parental Rights, Stop WOKE Act, Disney battle—he leads nationally on this.
Abbott is conservative but doesn’t fight culture war as aggressively.
Who’s Better on Economy?
Winner: TIE
Both states booming. Both no income tax. Both attracting businesses. Both population growing rapidly.
Florida slightly better job growth. Texas slightly more corporate relocations. Essentially tied.
Who’s Better on Guns?
Winner: ABBOTT
Texas passed constitutional carry. Florida has concealed carry but not constitutional carry yet.
Abbott delivers more for Second Amendment.
Who’s Better on Abortion?
Winner: TIE (or neither, depending on view)
Both passed restrictive abortion laws. Both deliver for pro-life conservatives. Both have some conservative critics who think 6-week bans go too far.
Who’s Better on Election Integrity?
Winner: TIE
Both passed strong election laws. Both cracked down on fraud. Both have secure, efficient elections.
Who Fights Media Better?
Winner: DESANTIS
DeSantis stands up to media attacks better. Abbott gets less media attention (good or bad).
DeSantis thrives in confrontation. Abbott more traditional politician.
Who’s Better National Leader?
Winner: DESANTIS (was, before 2024 campaign)
DeSantis became national conservative leader through COVID stance and culture war fights. Other governors copied his policies.
Abbott is respected but doesn’t drive national conservative movement same way.
But: DeSantis’s failed presidential campaign damaged his national standing. Abbott never ran, so no failure to overcome.
Who Has Bigger Failures?
Winner: TIE (both have one major failure)
Abbott: Winter storm disaster that killed 246 Texans.
DeSantis: Presidential campaign collapse that embarrassed supporters.
Both have one major black mark on otherwise strong records.
WHY CONSERVATIVES REFUSE TO CHOOSE
The Unity Imperative
“Both of them are great men that loves america and the rule of law vote red”
Conservatives recognize: Dividing their best governors serves no purpose. Democrats would love Republicans fighting over Abbott vs. DeSantis.
Better strategy: Celebrate BOTH. Use them as proof conservative governance works.
Different Strengths for Different Battles
“They’re both great conservative governors who do everything possible for their states”
Abbott and DeSantis fight different battles based on their states’ needs:
Abbott’s priority: Border security (because Texas has border)
DeSantis’s priority: Culture war (because Florida tourism/entertainment makes it battleground)
Both deliver for their states. Comparing them is like comparing apples and oranges.
The 2028 Question
Many conservatives see BOTH as potential 2028 presidential candidates (if Trump doesn’t run again or term-limited).
Declaring one “better” creates primary battle. Better to praise both and let future sort itself out.
The Model State Competition
Texas and Florida compete for title of “best conservative state.” Both attract businesses leaving California and New York. Both growing rapidly. Both proving conservative governance works.
The competition is HEALTHY. It pushes both governors to deliver more. Why would conservatives want to end that?
THE OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT
Based on Records, Not Feelings
If forced to choose (which the comments refuse to do):
DeSantis slightly edges Abbott based on:
- COVID response – generationally important, DeSantis was right, others copied him
- National impact – DeSantis shifted national conservative movement
- Culture war leadership – made fighting woke ideology mainstream conservative position
- Consistency – fewer major reversals or failures (Abbott’s early COVID lockdowns, winter storm)
But Abbott has major advantages:
- Border security – solving America’s #1 crisis
- Larger state – Texas is bigger, more complex to govern
- Energy leadership – Texas energy production matters nationally
- Longer tenure – Abbott since 2015, DeSantis since 2019
The honest answer: DeSantis A, Abbott B+
DeSantis’s COVID response alone is historically significant. He was RIGHT when experts were wrong. He stood firm when pressure was enormous. That’s A+ leadership.
Abbott’s border security is crucial but can’t overcome winter storm disaster and early COVID mistakes.
But the margin is SMALL. Both are top-tier conservative governors. The difference is marginal, not decisive.
Why “Both” Is Legitimate Answer
The comments aren’t copping out. They’re recognizing REALITY:
Both Abbott and DeSantis are:
- Delivering for their states
- Fighting for conservative principles
- Standing up to federal overreach
- Proving conservative governance works
- Preparing for potential national leadership
Ranking them serves no purpose except creating division.
Better answer: America is LUCKY to have both. They make each other better through competition. They prove red state governance beats blue state governance.
THE FINAL VERDICT
Best conservative governor: Abbott or DeSantis?
According to comments: BOTH/TIE (40+ responses refusing to choose)
According to objective records: DESANTIS slightly (COVID response and national impact)
According to conservative wisdom: BOTH (why divide our champions?)
The truth: America needs both Abbott AND DeSantis. They fight different battles in different states with different challenges. Both deliver. Both lead. Both prove conservatism works.
DeSantis’s COVID response was historically important. Abbott’s border security is nationally crucial. DeSantis fights culture war better. Abbott has bigger state. DeSantis has fewer failures. Abbott has longer tenure.
The margin is SMALL. The combined impact is HUGE.
Instead of ranking them, conservatives should celebrate having TWO governors who actually FIGHT and WIN. That’s rare. That’s valuable. That’s worth protecting.
Do YOU think Abbott or DeSantis is better? Or do you agree with the 80%+ who said BOTH deserve equal praise? The records show DeSantis slightly ahead, but conservative wisdom says: Don’t divide our champions.
Alex Smith is a dedicated writer focused on empowering men to reach their full potential. With expertise in mindset, self-improvement, and confidence building, Alex provides practical guidance tailored specifically for men. Through his insightful and relatable articles, he inspires readers to cultivate a positive mindset, overcome challenges, and embrace continuous personal growth. With a warm and authentic approach, Alex creates a supportive community where men can connect, share experiences, and inspire one another on their journey to success. Join Alex on this transformative path and unlock your true potential.