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This article is part of
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Ron DeSantis
Personal
U.S. House of Representatives
46th Governor of Florida
Presidential campaigns

Ronald Dion DeSantis (/dɪˈsæntɪs, diː-/; born September 14, 1978) is an American politician, attorney, and former naval officer serving since 2019 as the 46th governor of Florida. A member of the Republican Party, he served from 2013 to 2018 as the U.S. representative from Florida's 6th congressional district. DeSantis was a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, withdrawing his candidacy in January 2024.

After graduating from Yale University and Harvard Law School, DeSantis joined the U.S. Navy in 2004 and was promoted to lieutenant before serving as a legal advisor to SEAL Team One. He was stationed at Joint Task Force Guantanamo in 2006 and was deployed to Iraq in 2007. When DeSantis returned to the U.S. about eight months later, the U.S. attorney general appointed DeSantis to serve as a special assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Florida, a position he held until his honorable discharge from active military duty in 2010.

DeSantis was first elected to Congress in 2012 and was reelected in 2014 and 2016. During his tenure, he became a founding member of the Freedom Caucus and was an ally of President Donald Trump. He briefly ran for U.S. Senate in 2016 but withdrew when incumbent Senator Marco Rubio sought reelection. After winning the Republican nomination in the 2018 gubernatorial election, DeSantis defeated Tallahassee mayor and Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum by 0.4%.

DeSantis was governor during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as during Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole. He encouraged the passage of the Parental Rights in Education Act and the Heartbeat Protection Act. In the 2022 gubernatorial election, he defeated former governor Charlie Crist by 19.4 percentage points, the state's largest margin of victory for a governor's election in 40 years. In his second term, DeSantis signed Florida Senate Bill 266 and established the Florida departments of Commerce and Government Efficiency. On May 24, 2023, DeSantis announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president of the United States, and he continued to serve as governor during the campaign. On January 21, 2024, DeSantis withdrew his presidential candidacy and endorsed Trump.

Early life and education

[edit]

Ronald Dion DeSantis was born on September 14, 1978, in Jacksonville, Florida, to parents Karen DeSantis (née Rogers) and Ronald Daniel DeSantis. His middle name, Dion, honors the singer Dion DiMucci,[1] and his family name has different pronunciations.[2] His mother's family name, Rogers, was chosen by her grandfather (né Ruggiero) upon immigrating from Italy.[3][4][5] All of DeSantis's great-grandparents immigrated from Southern Italy[a] during the first Italian diaspora.[11] His parents and all of his grandparents were born and grew up in Western Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio.[1]

DeSantis's mother worked as a nurse and his father installed Nielsen TV-rating boxes.[12] They met while attending Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, during the 1970s and moved to Jacksonville, Florida, during that decade.[13] His family then moved to Orlando, Florida, before relocating when he was six years old to the city of Dunedin in Florida's Tampa Bay area.[14] His only sibling, younger sister Christina, died in 2015 at age 30 from a pulmonary embolism.[15][16][17] He was a member of the Dunedin National team that made it to the 1991 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.[18][19] DeSantis attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School and Dunedin High School, graduating in 1997.[12]

After high school, DeSantis studied history at Yale University. He was captain of Yale's varsity baseball team; he played outfield, and as a senior in 2001 he had the team's best batting average at .336.[20][21][22][23] DeSantis is a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and of the St. Elmo Society, one of Yale's secret societies.[19][24][25] While attending Yale, he worked a variety of jobs, including as an electrician's assistant and a coach at a baseball camp.[12] DeSantis graduated from Yale in 2001 with a B.A., magna cum laude.[26]

After Yale, DeSantis taught history and coached for a year at Darlington School in Georgia,[27] then attended Harvard Law School, graduating in 2005 with a Juris Doctor, cum laude.[28] At Harvard, he was business manager for the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy.[25]

Military service

[edit]
DeSantis as a U.S. Navy ensign of United States Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps, c. 2005

In 2004, during his second year at Harvard Law, DeSantis was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy and assigned to the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. He completed Naval Justice School in 2005. Later that year, he reported to the Judge Advocate General Trial Service Office Command South East at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, as a prosecutor. He was promoted from lieutenant, junior grade to lieutenant in 2006.

In the spring of 2006, DeSantis arrived at Joint Task Force Guantanamo, working with detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.[29][30][31] The publicly released records of his service in the Navy were redacted, with the Navy citing a personal-privacy exception to the Freedom of Information Act.[32] Mansur Ahmad Saad al-Dayfi, who was held at Guantanamo, alleged in 2022 that DeSantis oversaw force-feeding detainees[33][34][35][36][31] and DeSantis acknowledged that he advised the commander of the base about the use of force feeding.[37]

DeSantis while on deployment to Iraq

In 2007, DeSantis reported to the Naval Special Warfare Command Group in Coronado, California, where he was assigned as a legal adviser to SEAL Team One; he deployed to Iraq in the fall of 2007 as part of the troop surge.[38][39] He served as legal adviser to Dane Thorleifson, the SEAL Commander of the Special Operations Task Force-West in Fallujah.[29][30]

DeSantis returned to the U.S. in April 2008, reassigned to the Naval Region Southeast Legal Service. He was appointed to serve as a special assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Florida.[38] DeSantis was assigned as a trial defense counsel until his honorable discharge from active duty in February 2010. He concurrently accepted a reserve commission as a lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the U.S. Navy Reserve.[40][41][42]

During his military career, DeSantis was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal.[29][30] His Navy Reserve service ended in February 2019, a month after his gubernatorial inauguration, with the rank of lieutenant commander.[43]

Post-naval career

[edit]

With two law-school friends, DeSantis founded an LSAT test-prep company, LSAT Freedom, that one of the other co-founders billed as "the only LSAT prep courses designed exclusively by Harvard Law School graduates". DeSantis also worked as a litigator at the Miami-based law firm Holland & Knight before running for Congress in 2012.[25]

U.S. House of Representatives (2013–2018)

[edit]

Elections

[edit]
DeSantis's U.S. House of Representatives official portrait (c. 2013)

In 2012, DeSantis ran for the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 6th congressional district. During his campaign, he aligned himself with the conservative Tea Party movement.[44] His campaign was financially supported by the Koch Brothers' organizations FreedomWorks and Club for Growth. U.S. senator Mike Lee and former United Nations ambassador John Bolton helped DeSantis campaign and raise money.[44][45] In August, DeSantis defeated six candidates in the Republican primary[46] and then defeated Democratic nominee Heather Beaven in the November general election.[47] He was reelected in 2014[48] and 2016.[49]

In May 2015, DeSantis announced his candidacy for the 2016 United States Senate election in Florida. He ran for the seat held by Marco Rubio, who initially did not file to run for reelection due to his 2016 presidential campaign.[50] DeSantis was endorsed by the Koch Brothers' fiscally conservative Club for Growth, which had previously supported his U.S. House campaign.[51] When Rubio ended his presidential bid and ran for reelection to the Senate, DeSantis withdrew from the Senate race, instead running for reelection to the House.[52]

Tenure

[edit]
Further information: Political positions of Ron DeSantis
DeSantis speaking at the Hudson Institute in June 2015

DeSantis signed a 2013 "No Climate Tax Pledge" against any tax hikes to fight global warming.[53] He voted in favor of H.R. 45, which would have repealed the Affordable Care Act in 2013.[54] DeSantis introduced a bill in 2014 that would have required the Justice Department to report to Congress whenever any federal agency refrained from enforcing laws.[55][56][57] In 2015, DeSantis was a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, a group of congressional conservatives and libertarians.[30][58][59]

DeSantis opposes gun control and received repeated "A" ratings from the NRA Political Victory Fund.[60][61] He has said, "Very rarely do firearms restrictions affect criminals. They really only affect law-abiding citizens."[62]

DeSantis was a critic of Obama's immigration policies, including deferred action legislation (DACA and DAPA), accusing Obama of failing to enforce immigration laws.[63] In 2015 he co-sponsored Kate's Law, which would have increased penalties for aliens who unlawfully reenter the U.S. after being removed.[64] DeSantis encouraged Florida sheriffs to cooperate with the federal government on immigration-related issues.[65]

In 2016, DeSantis introduced the Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act, which would have allowed states to create their own accreditation systems. He said this legislation would also give students "access to federal loan money to put towards non-traditional educational opportunities, such as online learning courses, vocational schools, and apprenticeships in skilled trades".[66]

In 2016, DeSantis received a "0" rating from the Human Rights Campaign on LGBT-related legislation.[67][68] Two years later, he told the Sun Sentinel that he "doesn't want any discrimination in Florida, I want people to be able to live their life, whether you're gay or whether you're religious."[69]

DeSantis was present before the June 2017 congressional baseball shooting, and the perpetrator asked him whether the players were Republicans.[70] Later that summer, DeSantis proposed legislation that would have ended funding by November of that year for the Mueller investigation of President Trump.[71] He said that the May 17, 2017, order that initiated the probe "didn't identify a crime to be investigated" and was likely to start a fishing expedition.[72][73]

DeSantis supports a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on members of Congress, so that U.S. representatives would be limited to three terms and senators to two.[74] He served three terms in the House of Representatives, retiring in 2018 to run for governor of Florida.[75]

Fiscal policy

[edit]

DeSantis said that the debate over how to reduce the federal deficit should shift emphasis from tax increases to curtailing spending and triggering economic growth.[76] He is a past supporter of replacing the federal income tax and the IRS with a federal sales tax called the FairTax, by cosponsoring legislation to do so as a U.S. representative.[77][78] He supported a "no budget, no pay" policy for Congress to encourage passage of a budget resolution.[79] DeSantis endorsed the REINS Act, which would have required that regulations significantly affecting the economy be subject to a vote of Congress before taking effect.[80] He also supported auditing the Federal Reserve System.[81]

DeSantis supported the 2014 Venezuelan protests, calling them peaceful and a result of Venezuela's "socialist" economic policy. He heavily criticized the Venezuelan government's response to the protests, saying its actions resembled techniques used by Cuban leader Fidel Castro.[82] For alleged IRS targeting of conservatives, DeSantis asked for IRS commissioner John Koskinen's resignation for having "failed the American people by frustrating Congress's attempts to ascertain the truth."[83][84] He cosponsored a bill to impeach Koskinen for violating the public's trust.[85] DeSantis criticized IRS employee Lois Lerner and asked that she testify to Congress.[86]

In 2014, DeSantis introduced the Let Seniors Work Act, the companion of a similar bill introduced by Marco Rubio in the Senate.[87] The bill would have repealed an incentive to retire instead of keep working and would have exempted those above 65 from the 12.4% Social Security payroll tax; he also cosponsored a measure to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits.[88][89] According to PolitiFact, it is "half true" that DeSantis voted to cut Social Security and Medicare and voted to increase the retirement age, because those votes were on non-binding resolutions that would not have become law even if passed, and because the objective was to stabilize those social programs to avoid steeper cuts later.[90][91]

Conservative think tank Citizens Against Government Waste named DeSantis a "Taxpayer Superhero" in 2015.[92] DeSantis sponsored the Transportation Empowerment Act, which would have transferred much of the responsibility for transportation projects to the states and sharply reduced the federal gas tax.[93] He opposed legislation to require online retailers to collect and pay state sales tax.[94] He voted for the 2017 Trump tax cuts.[95][96]

DeSantis opted not to receive his congressional pension and filed a measure that would eliminate pensions for members of Congress.[81][97]

Committees

[edit]

During the 114th United States Congress, DeSantis served on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and chaired its Subcommittee on National Security.[98] He also served on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee, and the Republican Study Committee, along with several subcommittees of those.[99]

Gubernatorial campaigns

[edit]

DeSantis was elected governor of Florida in 2018 and reelected in 2022. He is not eligible to run for a third term in 2026.[100]

2018 candidacy

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Florida gubernatorial election
2018 election results map by county
DeSantis:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Gillum:      50–60%      60–70%

On January 5, 2018, DeSantis filed to run for the office of governor to replace term-limited Republican incumbent Rick Scott.[101] President Trump had said the previous month that he would support DeSantis should he run for governor.[102] During the Republican primary, DeSantis emphasized his support for Trump by running an ad in which DeSantis taught his children how to "build the wall" and say "Make America Great Again".[103] Asked whether he could name an issue on which he disagreed with Trump, DeSantis declined.[104] On August 28, 2018, DeSantis won the Republican primary, defeating his main opponent, Adam Putnam.[105]

DeSantis's gubernatorial platform included support for legislation that would allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry firearms openly.[106] He also supported a law mandating the use of E-Verify by businesses and a state-level ban on sanctuary city protections for undocumented immigrants.[106] DeSantis promised to stop the spread of polluted water from Lake Okeechobee.[106] He expressed support for a state constitutional amendment to require a supermajority vote for any tax increases.[107] DeSantis opposed allowing able-bodied, childless adults to receive Medicaid.[107] He said he would implement a medical cannabis program, while opposing the legalization of recreational cannabis.[107][108][109]

The day after his primary win, in a televised Fox News interview, DeSantis said, "The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting the state." His use of the word "monkey" received widespread media attention, and was interpreted by some, including Florida Democratic Party chair Terrie Rizzo, as a racist dog whistle alluding to the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Andrew Gillum, who is African-American.[110][111][112][113] DeSantis denied the racism charge.[114][115][116][117] Dexter Filkins, writing in The New Yorker in 2022, called it a "disastrous gaffe," and quoted an unnamed ally of DeSantis lamenting that afterward, "We were handling Gillum with kid gloves. We can't hit the guy, because we're trying to defend the fact that we're not racist."[114]

The general election was "widely seen as a toss-up."[118] Some sheriffs endorsed DeSantis, while other sheriffs backed Gillum.[119] DeSantis was endorsed by the Florida Police Chiefs Association.[120] On September 5, he announced state representative Jeanette Núñez as his running mate.[121] He resigned his House seat on September 10 to focus on his gubernatorial campaign.[122] The same month, he canceled a planned interview with the Tampa Bay Times to have additional time to put together a platform before an in-depth policy interview.[123] On election night, initial results had DeSantis winning, and so Gillum conceded.[124] Gillum rescinded his concession when the margin narrowed to 0.4 percent, and an automatic machine recount began with a November 15 deadline.[125] Although three counties missed the deadline, it was not extended.[126][127] DeSantis was confirmed as the winner and Gillum conceded on November 17.[128]

2022 candidacy

[edit]
Main article: 2022 Florida gubernatorial election
2022 election results map by county
DeSantis:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Crist:      50–60%      60–70%

In September 2021, DeSantis announced he would run for reelection.[129] On November 7, he filed the necessary paperwork to officially enter the race.[130] In the general election, he faced Democratic nominee Charlie Crist, a U.S. representative and former Florida governor.[131] Crist heavily criticized DeSantis's decision to transport illegal immigrants to Democratic states, arguing that it was human rights abuse.[132] During an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News, Crist called DeSantis "one of the biggest threats to democracy".[133]

The gubernatorial debate was held on October 23, and the candidates exchanged attacks. At one point, Crist asked DeSantis whether he would serve a full four-year term, in relation to talk about a potential DeSantis campaign for president in 2024. DeSantis responded, "the only worn-out old donkey I'm looking to put out to pastures is Charlie Crist".[134] On the campaign trail DeSantis criticized Crist's role as a U.S. representative, and at the debate said that Crist showed up for work for only 14 days during 2022.[135]

DeSantis won the November 8 election in a landslide,[136] with 59.4 percent of the vote to Crist's 40 percent; it was the largest margin of victory in a Florida gubernatorial election since 1982.[137] Significantly, DeSantis won Miami-Dade County, which had been considered a Democratic stronghold and had last voted Republican in 2002, and Palm Beach County, which had not voted Republican since 1986.[138][139] Crist conceded the election shortly after DeSantis was projected as the winner.[140] At DeSantis's victory rally, supporters chanted "two more years" at various times rather than the common "four more years" to show support for DeSantis for president in 2024.[141]

Governor of Florida (2019–present)

[edit]
Main article: Governorship of Ron DeSantis
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DeSantis's official portrait during his first term as governor

DeSantis became governor of Florida on January 8, 2019.[142] Inaugurated at age 40, he was the youngest person to assume the office since Park Trammell in 1913 and the youngest Republican ever to hold the position.[143] He has generally governed as a conservative.[144] On January 11, 2019, he posthumously pardoned the Groveland Four, a group of black men falsely convicted of rape in 1949.[145][146] The same day,[147] he officially suspended Broward County sheriff Scott Israel, ostensibly for his responses to the mass shootings at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, appointing Gregory Tony to replace him.[148][149] In its 2021 session, the Florida legislature passed DeSantis's top priorities.[150][151] During his tenure, the Republican-dominated Florida Legislature enacted much of DeSantis's legislative agenda, often on rapid timelines.[152][153] Maximizing the power of the governor's office, DeSantis exerted pressure on Republican legislative leaders.[154][155]

Economic

[edit]
Main article: Economy of Florida
DeSantis with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chief Finance Officer Jimmy Patronis, and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried in 2019

During his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, DeSantis pledged to lower corporate income taxes to 5 percent or lower.[156] During his tenure, corporate income taxes in Florida got as low as 3.5 percent in 2021, but by 2022 they had increased to 5.5 percent.[157] DeSantis has maintained Florida's low-tax status during his time as governor.[158] In June 2019, DeSantis signed a $91.1 billion budget the legislature passed the previous month, which was the largest in state history at the time, though he cut $131 million in appropriations.[159][160] In June 2021, he signed a $101.5 billion budget; he used his line-item veto to veto $1.5 billion (of which $1 billion was in federal American Rescue Plan Act money for an emergency response fund).[161][162] The budget DeSantis signed was more than $9 billion higher than Florida's current state spending plan.[161]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, DeSantis blamed former governor Rick Scott for "revamping the state's unemployment insurance system with pointless roadblocks that he said were designed to prevent people from claiming benefits", saying it created massive backlogs earlier in the year as the pandemic decimated the economy.[163] Afterward, Florida's economy swiftly started recovering, and the unemployment rate fell below 7 percent by the latter half of 2020.[164] In December 2020, DeSantis ordered the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to extend unemployment waivers until February 27, 2021.[165] By the end of 2020, the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, graded DeSantis "B" in its biennial fiscal policy report on America's governors.[166] Since May 2022, Florida's unemployment rate has sat around two percent, below the national average.[167]

On November 22, 2021, because of a significant increase in gasoline prices, DeSantis announced that he would temporarily waive Florida's gasoline tax in the next legislative session, in 2022.[168] Florida had a record state budget surplus in 2023.[169]

In 2023, DeSantis reestablished the Florida Department of Commerce, consolidating Visit Florida, Enterprise Florida and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.[170][171][172]

While in Congress, DeSantis supported proposals to raise the retirement age (i.e., the age to qualify for Medicare and Social Security) to 70 and to privatize Medicare, turning it into a "premium support" system.[91][173][90] While running for president in 2023, DeSantis reversed his position, saying, "we’re not going to mess with Social Security."[91][173][90]

Education

[edit]

In June 2021, DeSantis led an effort to ban the teaching of critical race theory in Florida public schools (though it had not been part of Florida's public school curriculum). He described critical race theory as "teaching kids to hate their country," mirroring a similar push by conservatives nationally.[174] The Florida Board of Education approved the ban on June 10. The Florida Education Association criticized the ban, accusing the board of trying to hide facts from students. Other critics said the ban was an effort to "politicize classroom education and whitewash American history".[175][176]

On September 14, 2021, DeSantis announced that Florida would replace the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) test with a system of three smaller tests throughout the school year, in the fall, winter and spring. The new system was implemented in the 2022–23 school year.[177]

On December 15, 2021, DeSantis announced a new bill, the Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act ("Stop WOKE Act"), which would allow parents to sue school districts that teach critical race theory. He framed the bill as a bill to combat "woke indoctrination" that would "teach our kids to hate our country or hate each other."[178][179][180][181] On August 18, 2022, federal judge Mark E. Walker blocked enforcement of the act as applied to businesses, ruling that it violated the First Amendment and was impermissibly vague.[182] Walker later blocked enforcement of the act as applied to public universities for similar reasons, writing that the legislation is "positively dystopian" because it "officially bans professors from expressing disfavored viewpoints in university classrooms while permitting unfettered expression of the opposite viewpoints."[183]

Election law and voting rights

[edit]

DeSantis expressed support for the Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative after it passed in November 2018, saying he was "obligated to faithfully implement [it] as it is defined" when he became governor. After he refused to restore voting rights for felons with unpaid fines, which voting rights groups said was inconsistent with the referendum's results, he was challenged in court. The Florida Supreme Court sided with DeSantis on the issue,[184] and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit also sided with DeSantis in a 6–4 ruling.[185]

In April 2019, DeSantis directed Florida's elections chief to expand the availability of Spanish-language ballots and Spanish assistance for voters. In a statement, DeSantis said, "It is critically important that Spanish-speaking Floridians are able to exercise their right to vote without any language barriers."[186]

In June 2019, DeSantis signed a measure that would make it harder to launch successful ballot initiatives. Petition-gathering for ballot initiatives to legalize medical cannabis, increases to the minimum wage, and expansion of Medicaid were also under way.[187][188][189] DeSantis instructed Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to investigate whether Michael Bloomberg had criminally offered incentives for felons to vote by assisting in a fundraising effort to pay off their financial obligations so they could vote in the 2020 presidential election in Florida. No wrongdoing was found.[190]

In February 2021, DeSantis announced his support for eliminating ballot drop boxes and limiting voting by mail by requiring that voters re-register every year to vote by mail and that signatures on mail-in ballots "match the most recent signature on file" (rather than any of the voter's signatures in the Florida system).[191][192] The changes to mail-in voting were notable given that Republicans had historically voted by mail more than Democrats, but Democrats outvoted Republicans by mail in 2020.[191] According to a Tampa Bay Times analysis, DeSantis's signature match proposal could have led to rejections of his own mail-in ballots due to changes in his signature history over time; voting rights experts argued that the signature matching proposal could be used to disenfranchise voters whose signatures varied over time.[192]

Abortion limits

[edit]

After the U.S. Supreme Court decided Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, DeSantis pledged to "expand pro-life protections".[193] On April 14, 2022, he signed into law a bill that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy; under the previous law, the limit had been 24 weeks.[194] The law includes exceptions for abortions beyond 15 weeks if they are necessary to avert "serious risk" to the pregnant woman's physical health or if there is a "fatal fetal abnormality" but makes no exceptions for rape, human trafficking, incest, or mental health.[195]

The law was expected to go into effect on July 1, 2022,[196] but a state judge blocked its enforcement, ruling that it violated the right to privacy guaranteed by the Florida Constitution.[197][198] After DeSantis appealed the ruling, the law went into effect on July 5, pending judicial review.[199] In January 2023, the Supreme Court of Florida agreed to hear a legal challenge to the law.[200]

In April 2023, DeSantis signed a six-week abortion ban.[201] The legislation contains exceptions allowing abortion up to 15 weeks in cases in which the pregnancy was a result of rape, incest, or human trafficking, but requires the woman to provide proof of a crime before being permitted an abortion under any of those exceptions.[202][203] The bill will make providing an abortion a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, ban telemedicine for abortion, and limit the availability of medication abortion.[204] The six-week ban went into effect on May 1, 2024, after the Supreme Court of Florida upheld the 15-week ban on April 1, 2024.[205]

Tech platforms

[edit]

On February 2, 2021, DeSantis announced support for legislation to hold tech companies accountable to prevent alleged political censorship.[206][207] In response to social media networks removing Trump from their platforms, DeSantis and other Florida Republicans pushed legislation in the Florida legislature to prohibit tech companies from de-platforming political candidates.[208] A federal judge blocked the law by preliminary injunction the day before it was to take effect, on the grounds that it violated the First Amendment and federal law.[209] When Twitter suspended DeSantis administration critic Rebekah Jones's account for violating rules against spam and platform manipulation, DeSantis's office applauded the decision, calling it "long overdue".[210][211] DeSantis supported Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, believing "it illegal for tech platforms to block or demote content that might otherwise run afoul of their terms of service".[212]

In 2024, Desantis signed into a law a bill that requires social media platforms to prohibit people under 16 years old from making accounts. The law has been criticized by digital rights organizations like Netchoice, which said it "forces Floridians to hand over sensitive personal information to websites or lose their access to critical information channels. This infringes on Floridians' First Amendment rights to share and access speech online", and that "the Supreme Court has made clear that the government lacks the 'free-floating power to restrict the ideas to which children may be exposed'".[213]

COVID-19 response

[edit]
See also: COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and COVID-19 pandemic in Florida

During 2020 and 2021, scientists and media outlets initially gave mixed reviews of DeSantis's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.[214][215][216] From March 2020 through March 22, 2023, Florida had the 12th-highest rate of cases and deaths per 100,000 people among the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, without adjusting for the age of Florida's large and vulnerable elderly population.[217][218] Florida's age-adjusted death rate, which takes its disproportionately elderly population into account, was roughly near the median among states as of 2021, and a 2022 study placed it at the nation's 12th lowest.[219][218][220] By 2023, many political scientists acknowledged that DeSantis's management of the pandemic may have benefited him in his reelection campaign, and he was credited with turning "his coronavirus policies into a parable of American freedom".[221][222]

LGBT rights

[edit]
Further information: LGBT rights in Florida § Education

On June 1, 2021, DeSantis signed the Fairness in Women's Sports Act (SB 1028). It bans transgender girls and women from participating and competing in middle-school and high-school girls' and college women's sports competitions. The law took effect on July 1.[223]

In February 2022, DeSantis voiced support for the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act (HB1557), referred to by opponents as the "Don't Say Gay" law, which prohibits discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in school classrooms from kindergarten to grade 3. He said it was "entirely inappropriate" for teachers and school administrators to talk to students about their gender identity.[224][225][226] DeSantis signed the bill into law in March 2022, and it took effect on July 1, 2022.[227] This statute also includes a provision "requiring school district personnel to encourage a student to discuss issues relating to his or her well-being with his or her parent or to facilitate discussion of the issue with the parent", and does not limit such issues to sexual orientation or gender identity.[228] As of March 2023, DeSantis was considering further similar legislation for all grades.[229][230] On April 19, the state board of education extended the act's restrictions on classroom instruction to grades 4–12, unless the instruction is required by existing state standards or is part of an elective course on reproductive health.[231][232]

Dispute with Disney

[edit]
Main article: Disney v. DeSantis

The Walt Disney Company, owner of Walt Disney World in Florida, called for the law's repeal, beginning a dispute between Disney and the state government.[233] In April 2022, DeSantis signed a bill eliminating the company's special independent district act and replacing its Disney-appointed board of overseers.[234][235] He also threatened during a press conference to build a new state prison near the Disney World complex.[236] On April 26, 2023, Disney filed suit against DeSantis and several others, accusing them of retaliating against protected speech.[237] DeSantis's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss Disney's lawsuit on June 26, claiming that the governor and state legislators have "legislative immunity".[238] The lawsuit was dismissed on January 31, 2024, with Disney vowing to appeal.[239] On March 27, 2024, Disney settled its pending state court lawsuits with DeSantis. Per the agreement, Disney put the appeal of its federal lawsuit on hold while a new development agreement with Florida was negotiated. But no alterations to Disney's appeal of the federal lawsuit were made.[240][241][242] The settlement came a day after DeSantis replaced two Disney critics on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District with two Disney supporters[243][244] and two weeks after a court largely overturned The Parental Rights in Education Act.[245][246]

Policing and law enforcement

[edit]
DeSantis at a pro-law enforcement rally in Staten Island

DeSantis opposes efforts to defund the police, and as governor has introduced initiatives to "fund the police".[247] In September 2021, he introduced a $5,000 signing bonus for Florida police officers in a bid to attract out-of-state police recruits.[248]

In April 2021, DeSantis signed into law the Combating Public Disorder Act he had been advocating. Aside from being an anti-riot statute, it forbade intimidation by mobs; penalized damage to historic properties or memorials, such as downtown Miami's Christopher Columbus statue, which was damaged in 2020; and forbade publishing personal identifying information online with intent to harm.[249] DeSantis had argued for this legislation by citing the George Floyd protests of 2020 and the 2021 United States Capitol attack, although only the former was mentioned at the signing ceremony.[250] Several months after the signing, a federal judge blocked the portion of the law that introduced a new definition of "riot", calling it too vague.[251]

On May 5, 2021, DeSantis announced that all Florida police officers, firefighters, and paramedics would receive a $1,000 bonus.[252]

On December 2, 2021, DeSantis announced that as part of a $100 million funding proposal for the Florida National Guard, $3.5 million would be allocated to the reactivation of the Florida State Guard, a volunteer state defense force that had been inactive since 1947.[253][254]

In 2022, DeSantis signed a bill creating an election police unit to investigate election fraud.[255] At a press event in September 2024, he defended the unit's visits to the homes of Florida voters who had signed an abortion rights ballot initiative.[256]

Immigration and refugees

[edit]

In June 2019, DeSantis signed an anti-"sanctuary city" bill into law. Florida had no sanctuary cities before the law's enactment, and immigration advocates called the bill politically motivated.[257][258][259]

Florida became the 12th state to adopt legislation requiring local governments to aid federal immigration-enforcement efforts.[260] In June 2020, DeSantis signed a bill requiring government employers and contractors to use E-Verify.[261][262][263] He had originally called for all employers to be required to use it.[264] A few years later, he signed into law an expansion of E-Verify and other immigration laws.[265]

In 2021, DeSantis halted cooperation with the Biden administration's program to relocate and resettle migrants in Florida in the wake of a surge in illegal immigration.[266] DeSantis's administration also allocated $12 million for relocating migrants to other states.[267]

In September 2022, after similar actions by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, an agent of DeSantis recruited 50 newly arrived asylum seekers, mostly from Venezuela, in San Antonio, Texas, and flew them via two chartered planes to the Crestview, Florida airport, where they did not debark, then proceeded to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. The migrants filed a class-action suit against DeSantis, which was later dismissed, calling his treatment of them "extreme and outrageous, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community".[268][269]

In May 2023, DeSantis announced plans to send over 1,000 personnel to Texas, including National Guard troops, to help Texas stem the influx of illegal immigration across the southern border.[270]

Hurricane Ian response

[edit]
Further information: Hurricane Ian
President Joe Biden and Governor DeSantis greet each other in Fort Myers for a briefing on response and recovery efforts after Hurricane Ian.

DeSantis was widely praised for the state's response to Hurricane Ian — the deadliest hurricane to hit Florida in 87 years.[271][272][273] In September 2022, DeSantis declared a state of emergency for all of Florida as Ian approached and asked for federal aid ahead of time.[274][275][better source needed] On October 5, after Ian deserted Florida, President Biden arrived in Florida and met with DeSantis and Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.[276] DeSantis and Biden held a press conference in Fort Myers, at which Biden said DeSantis had "done a good job", to report on the status of the cleanup.[277] In addition, DeSantis partnered with Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Inc., to use the Starlink satellite Internet service to help restore communication across the state.[278]

Environment

[edit]

DeSantis supported programs dedicated to environmental conservation and protection from flooding in Florida. At the same time, he questioned climate science, supported fossil fuels, opposed renewables, and sanctioned firms for considering environmental issues in their investments.[279]

The Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act gave Florida $3.75 million for urban forests and nature, $209,000 for fighting pollution, and $78.7 million to protect the state from climate change impacts.

DeSantis refused to accept $346 million from the Inflation Reduction Act for rebates to homeowners who want to retrofit their houses, make it more energy efficient, $3 million to fight pollution, and a program to help low-income people buy solar panels, as well as $24 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for improving sewage systems in rural areas. The rebates were requested by Florida energy office and the legislature, but DeSantis vetoed them. All other governors, including Republicans, accepted the money. The money could go to local cities and authorities, and three Florida cities received some funds. Rhode Island and Kentucky requested to take Florida's money for themselves. The program should help people lower their energy bills and weatherize their houses while creating jobs. Half the money should go to low-income households.[280][281][282] Making a house more energy-efficient can cut utility bills by 25% for an average family.[283] DeSantis later reversed course and attempted to reclaim some of the rejected home energy rebate funds.[284]

In June 2024, DeSantis vetoed a bill passed by the State House that would have created a statewide process managed by the Department of Health to issue closures and send warnings if the bacteria in waterways reached unsafe levels.[285]

Hope Florida scandal

[edit]
Main article: Hope Florida scandal

During the 2025 legislative session, DeSantis and his former chief of staff, James Uthmeier, were involved in a controversy over the transfer of $10,000,000 from a Medicaid settlement to a political committee Uthmeier controlled. The money was initially directed to go to the Hope Florida Foundation, but was immediately transferred by the foundation to two separate groups, both of which sent it to Uthmeier's political committee.[286] Legislators accused Uthmeier of money laundering and wire fraud for his role in directing the Medicaid settlement as DeSantis's chief of staff, then soliciting the applicants who requested the money from the Hope Florida Foundation, both of which immediately transferred it to a bank account under his control.[287]

On May 20, 2025, State Attorney Jack Campbell opened a criminal investigation into the allegations of money laundering and wire fraud.[288][289]

2024 presidential campaign

[edit]
Main article: Ron DeSantis 2024 presidential campaign
Further information: 2024 United States presidential election and 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries
Campaign logo for DeSantis

In 2020-23, media outlets saw DeSantis as a likely candidate for the 2024 presidential election, and notable people urged him to run.[290][291] In April 2023 Trump led DeSantis in national polls for the Republican nomination, but DeSantis was performing better in battleground polling of the general election.[292][293] In a straw poll at the 2022 Conservative Political Action Conference DeSantis came in second with 28%, to Trump's 59%.[294] In 2022, DeSantis became seen as a contender for the nomination. Writers predicted he could defeat Trump or said he was preferable to Trump in view of the January 6 hearings and straw polls.[295][296][297] These ideas gained more traction after the 2022 midterm elections, when DeSantis was reelected governor by almost 20 percentage points, while Trump-endorsed candidates, such as Mehmet Oz in the Senate race in Pennsylvania, performed poorly.[298][299] In 2024, due to the controversy that arose over Pete Hegseth's nomination as Secretary of Defense, Trump considered nominating DeSantis instead.[300][301]

The release of DeSantis's memoir, The Courage to Be Free, and book tour, increased 2024 speculation.[302] On May 24, 2023, DeSantis officially launched his bid for president.[303] It was announced on X, then called Twitter, with assistance from its owner, Elon Musk; the launch was marred by technical glitches.[304]

On January 21, 2024, two days before the New Hampshire primary, DeSantis announced on X that he was suspending his campaign and endorsed Trump.[305] He had finished in a distant second to Trump in the Iowa caucuses the previous week.[306] DeSantis's campaign finished with nine delegates to the Republican National Convention.[307][308] Despite having already dropped out, DeSantis still had his name on the ballot in the 2024 Florida Republican presidential primary and received 3.7% of the vote.[309]

Personal life

[edit]
DeSantis family in November 2022

DeSantis met his wife, Casey Black, at a golf course at the University of North Florida.[310][311] She had been a television host for the Golf Channel, and then a television journalist and news anchor at WJXT.[312][310] They married on September 26, 2009, in a chapel at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.[310][313][314] DeSantis is Catholic, as was his wedding ceremony.[314][315]

The couple lived in Ponte Vedra Beach, near St. Augustine, until it was drawn into the neighboring 4th congressional district. They then moved to a condo owned by Kent Stermon in Palm Coast, north of Daytona Beach, which remained in the district he represented: the 6th.[316][317] They have three children.[318]

He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.[319] In 2022, DeSantis appeared on Time 100, Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.[320] As of September 2023, his net worth was estimated at $1.5 million, up from $300,000 in 2021; his $1.25 million book deal with HarperCollins in 2022 made him a millionaire by the end of that year.[321][322][323]

Electoral history

[edit]
Main article: Electoral history of Ron DeSantis

Publications

[edit]
  • DeSantis, Ron (2011). Dreams from Our Founding Fathers: First Principles in the Age of Obama. Jacksonville: High-Pitched Hum Publishing. ISBN 978-1-934666-80-7.[324]
  • DeSantis, Ron (2023). The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0063276000.

Notes

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ron DeSantis

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Ronald Dion DeSantis (born September 14, 1978) is an American politician and former naval officer serving as the 46th governor of Florida since January 2019. [1][2] A Republican with a background in law and military service, DeSantis graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School before commissioning as a Judge Advocate General officer in the U.S. Navy, where he advised on legal matters during deployments to Guantanamo Bay and Iraq. [1][3] He represented Florida's 6th congressional district in the U.S. House from 2013 to 2018, focusing on fiscal conservatism and national security. [4] As governor, DeSantis has prioritized policies emphasizing individual liberties, economic growth, and resistance to federal mandates, leading Florida through the COVID-19 pandemic with minimal business closures and school disruptions compared to other states, contributing to record population influx and job creation. [2][5] His administration enacted reforms such as the Parental Rights in Education law to limit classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity for young children, restrictions on irreversible medical interventions for minors, and measures to curb foreign land ownership by adversarial nations like China. Reelected in 2022 by a nearly 20-point margin amid high voter turnout, DeSantis signed balanced budgets with tax cuts and vetoes to control spending, achieving fiscal surpluses while maintaining reserves exceeding $14 billion. [6][7] In 2023, DeSantis launched a presidential campaign for the 2024 Republican nomination, emphasizing competence over personality in governance, but suspended it in January 2024 after underperforming in the Iowa caucuses and endorsed rival Donald Trump. [8] Returning to Florida, he continued advancing conservative priorities, including bans on mRNA vaccine mandates, protections against chemical exposures, and immigration enforcement proposals, positioning the state as a model for limited government amid national debates on federal overreach. [9][10] His tenure has drawn empirical praise for Florida's top rankings in education outcomes, economic migration, and post-pandemic recovery, though criticized by opponents for policies they label as restrictive on social issues. [11][12]

Early life and education

Family background and upbringing

Ronald Dion DeSantis was born on September 14, 1978, in Jacksonville, Florida, to Ronald Daniel DeSantis and Karen DeSantis (née Rogers).[13] His father worked as a salesman, contributing to a working-class family environment marked by modest means and emphasis on self-sufficiency.[14] The family relocated to Dunedin, Florida, when DeSantis was young, where he spent his formative years in a blue-collar community along the Gulf Coast.[15] DeSantis's paternal heritage traces to Italian immigrants, with all eight great-grandparents originating from southern Italy, reflecting a lineage of migration and adaptation that his family maintained through generations in the U.S.[16] This background, combined with his parents' practical, labor-oriented lives, fostered an early appreciation for traditional values such as family stability and personal accountability, as evidenced by DeSantis's own descriptions of his upbringing in interviews.[17] As a youth in Dunedin, DeSantis developed discipline through athletics, particularly baseball, where he emerged as a standout player on local teams. His involvement included competing in youth leagues, culminating in participation with a Florida squad at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, an experience that highlighted teamwork and resilience amid competitive pressures.[18][19] These early pursuits in sports and community activities reinforced habits of perseverance shaped by his family's unpretentious circumstances.[15]

Academic achievements

DeSantis graduated from Dunedin High School in Dunedin, Florida.[20] He attended Yale University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 2001 with honors.[1][21] His coursework emphasized historical analysis, providing grounding in empirical evidence and causal sequences from primary sources across Western civilization, including foundational texts that prioritize rational inquiry over ideological conformity.[22] DeSantis then pursued legal studies at Harvard Law School, obtaining a Juris Doctor in 2005.[22] There, he served as an editor for the Harvard Journal of Legal Commentary, engaging in rigorous textual analysis and debate on constitutional principles detached from prevailing campus orthodoxies.[22] This period reinforced training in logical argumentation and precedent-based reasoning, contrasting with subsequent institutional shifts toward activism over disinterested scholarship.[22]

Military service

Naval Reserve and active duty

DeSantis was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps in 2004, shortly after the September 11 attacks motivated his application, though he completed his Harvard Law degree in 2005 before fully entering active duty later that year.[23] His initial active duty assignment was at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida, where he served as a prosecutor handling courts-martial cases.[23] From March 2006 to January 2007, he was deployed to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba, as a legal advisor to the military commissions at Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO), assisting in the preparation of detainee cases under the evolving legal framework for military tribunals.[24][23] In 2007, following his Guantanamo tour, DeSantis volunteered for deployment to Iraq, where from August to November he served as a legal advisor to the commander of SEAL Team 1, providing counsel on rules of engagement, legal and ethical considerations in operations, and compliance with international law during combat missions in Al Anbar Province.[25][23] For his service in Iraq, he received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in a combat zone, along with additional commendations including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.[23] His active duty period spanned 2004 to 2007, after which he transitioned to the Navy Reserve, maintaining his commission until receiving an honorable discharge in September 2010.[23]

Transition to civilian legal career

Upon completing his active-duty service in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps around 2010, Ron DeSantis entered civilian legal practice as a federal prosecutor in Florida.[1][26] In this role, he focused on targeting and securing convictions against child predators in felony cases, applying his legal training to prosecute serious federal crimes.[1][27] This brief tenure, lasting until his entry into congressional politics in 2012, marked his initial application of prosecutorial skills in the civilian justice system.[6]

U.S. House of Representatives tenure (2013–2018)

Elections and campaigns

![Official portrait of Ron DeSantis as U.S. Representative for Florida's 6th district][float-right] In June 2012, Ron DeSantis announced his candidacy for Florida's 6th congressional district, positioning himself as a conservative challenger amid incumbent Republican Cliff Stearns' suspension of his reelection bid due to federal investigations into his business ties.[28] Stearns' exit from the race in June 2012, following subpoenas related to banking practices, cleared a path for DeSantis in the redrawn district.[28] On August 14, 2012, DeSantis won the Republican primary with 38.8% of the vote (24,096 votes) in a five-candidate field that included former state representative Fred Costello (22.8%) and state senator Greg Evers (24.1%).[29] DeSantis defeated Democrat Heather Beaven in the general election on November 6, 2012, securing 56.9% of the vote (176,435 votes) to Beaven's 41.8% (129,559 votes). His campaign garnered grassroots support from tea party-aligned groups and conservative donors, emphasizing fiscal restraint through deficit reduction and economic growth policies, opposition to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), and advocacy for veterans drawing on his naval service.[30] [31] Following redistricting adjustments that shifted Florida's 6th district to include more conservative-leaning areas in northeast Florida, DeSantis ran unopposed in the August 30, 2016, Republican primary. In the general election on November 8, 2016, he won reelection against Democrat David McCullough with 62.3% of the vote (228,804 votes) to McCullough's 37.7% (138,293 votes), benefiting from high conservative turnout amid the presidential contest. DeSantis maintained his focus on limited government, Obamacare repeal efforts, and veteran priorities to mobilize Republican base voters.[30]

Legislative priorities

DeSantis consistently supported tax reductions and deregulation during his congressional tenure, voting in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which lowered individual and corporate tax rates while eliminating certain deductions to stimulate economic growth through reduced government intervention. He opposed federal bailouts, criticizing them as distortions of market incentives that reward fiscal irresponsibility, as evidenced by his broader advocacy against corporate welfare programs like the Export-Import Bank reauthorization.[32] DeSantis also resisted spending increases, frequently voting against omnibus appropriations bills that exceeded baseline budgets, prioritizing limited government to avoid inflationary pressures and debt accumulation.[33] His legislative record reflected a commitment to national security, including a vote against the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran nuclear deal) on September 11, 2015, contending that it provided Iran with sanctions relief and economic resources without verifiable constraints on its nuclear program or ballistic missile development.[34] [35] DeSantis backed border security enhancements, supporting H.R. 4760 (Securing America's Future Act of 2018) on June 21, 2018, which aimed to fund physical barriers, increase personnel, and mandate E-Verify employment checks to curb illegal entries and related criminal activities.[36] DeSantis sponsored and co-sponsored bills addressing veterans' affairs, such as H.R. 5895 in the 115th Congress, which sought to streamline VA processes for disability claims and accountability for mismanagement, informed by documented inefficiencies in federal veteran care systems.[4] On counterterrorism, he endorsed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA, S. 2040), signed into law on September 28, 2016, which enabled civil suits against foreign entities, including Saudi Arabia, for supporting the 9/11 attacks, thereby extending liability beyond traditional sovereign immunity to deter state-sponsored terror.[37] Conservative scorecards validated his alignment with limited-government principles, with Heritage Action rating him at 87% in the 115th Congress and 88% in the 114th, based on votes opposing expansive federal authority and favoring market-oriented reforms.[38] [39] These positions stemmed from empirical assessments of policy outcomes, such as historical data showing deregulation correlating with higher GDP growth rates and unchecked spending contributing to national debt exceeding 100% of GDP by 2017.

Committee assignments and oversight roles

DeSantis served on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform throughout his tenure from 2013 to 2018, where he focused on investigations into executive branch misconduct and bureaucratic inefficiencies. He also held positions on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs starting in the 115th Congress (2017–2018), contributing to oversight of U.S. foreign policy implementation and national security matters, and on the House Committee on the Judiciary, which examined allegations of federal agency abuses.[4] These assignments positioned him to scrutinize instances of perceived government overreach, emphasizing accountability through subpoena enforcement and public hearings rather than reliance on internal agency self-reports.[40] In the Oversight Committee, DeSantis served as vice chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Job Creation, and Regulatory Affairs, using it to probe regulatory burdens and fiscal waste.[41] He was a leading voice in the investigation of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) differential treatment of conservative nonprofit applications between 2010 and 2012, highlighting evidence of deliberate delays and intrusive questioning based on ideological keywords like "Tea Party" or "patriot."[42] DeSantis advocated for the impeachment of IRS Commissioner John Koskinen in 2016, citing the agency's failure to preserve emails and its resistance to congressional subpoenas as obstruction of oversight, though the effort did not advance to a full House vote.[43] DeSantis participated in Oversight Committee hearings on the 2012 Benghazi attack, questioning State Department officials on security lapses and the administration's initial narrative attributing the assault to a spontaneous protest rather than premeditated terrorism.[44] These probes revealed discrepancies in threat assessments and response timelines, contributing to broader critiques of intelligence failures and resource allocation in high-risk diplomatic outposts.[45] Through the Judiciary Committee, he further examined IRS misconduct in a 2016 hearing, pressing witnesses on lost records and potential criminal referrals, underscoring systemic issues in agency compliance with congressional inquiries.[46] His oversight work emphasized empirical review of subpoena responses and document trails over partisan attributions, influencing subsequent legislative pushes for inspector general independence and ethics reforms.[47]

Gubernatorial elections

2018 campaign and victory

In the Republican primary for the 2018 Florida gubernatorial election, held on August 28, U.S. Representative Ron DeSantis secured victory with 56.6% of the vote, defeating Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who received 36.5%.[48] DeSantis's campaign gained significant momentum from President Donald Trump's endorsement on June 22, which highlighted DeSantis's academic credentials and positioned him as an outsider aligned with Trump's agenda against establishment figures like Putnam.[49] [50] This endorsement proved decisive in a crowded field, enabling DeSantis to overcome early polling deficits and appeal to voters prioritizing loyalty to Trump's policies over traditional GOP insider status.[51] Facing Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee, in the general election on November 6, DeSantis campaigned on themes of economic revitalization, educational opportunity, and opposition to what he described as Gillum's socialist policies, drawing contrasts to Venezuela's economic decline.[52] His platform emphasized job creation through deregulation and tax cuts, alongside school choice initiatives to empower parents over centralized control. The contest intensified following Hurricane Michael's landfall on October 10 as a Category 5 storm in the Florida Panhandle, prompting both campaigns to temporarily suspend events for recovery efforts before resuming attacks in South Florida, where DeSantis highlighted Gillum's alleged ties to progressive figures and fiscal risks.[53] DeSantis prevailed narrowly with 4,076,186 votes (49.59%) to Gillum's 4,043,723 (49.19%), a margin of 0.40 percentage points that triggered an automatic machine recount.[54] The recount, completed by November 17, confirmed the results without alteration, leading Gillum to concede and affirm the outcome's integrity despite initial delays in provisional and overseas ballot counting.[55] [56] This victory marked DeSantis as Florida's first governor without prior statewide elected experience since 1998, underscoring his appeal as a Trump-endorsed reformer resisting media-favored narratives of Gillum's progressive surge.[54]

2022 reelection campaign

Incumbent Governor Ron DeSantis sought reelection in 2022, securing the Republican nomination in the August 23 primary with 99.4% of the vote against token opposition from Anthony Sabatini.[57] His general election opponent was Charlie Crist, a former Republican governor who switched parties and won the Democratic primary. DeSantis' campaign emphasized his administration's resistance to COVID-19 lockdowns and mandates, crediting the approach with preserving economic vitality; Florida achieved the nation's lowest unemployment rate at 2.9% by September 2022 and set records for tourism revenue exceeding $100 billion annually.[58] [59] The reelection effort framed the contest as a defense of individual freedoms against progressive overreach, attacking "woke" indoctrination in schools through measures like the Parental Rights in Education Act and corporate activism exemplified by disputes with Disney over special district reforms. DeSantis linked voter concerns to national issues, including inflation surpassing 9% under President Biden, contrasting Florida's no-state-income-tax growth model with federal spending policies. Crist advocated reinstating mask mandates and supported gender-transition procedures for minors, positions DeSantis' ads portrayed as emblematic of Democratic extremism.[60][58] On November 8, 2022, DeSantis secured a landslide victory with 7,245,212 votes (59.4%) to Crist's 3,864,688 (40.0%), yielding a 19.4 percentage point margin—the widest for a Florida gubernatorial incumbent since 1982.[61] [62] [63] The result defied expectations of Democratic gains amid national headwinds, with DeSantis expanding margins in urban and Hispanic-heavy counties, attributing success to policy-driven rejection of mandates and economic pessimism tied to Biden-era inflation. Voter turnout reached approximately 67% of registered voters, the highest for a midterm in over a decade.[64] [65]

Governorship of Florida (2019–present)

Economic policies and fiscal management

DeSantis has prioritized fiscal conservatism in Florida, maintaining the state's longstanding absence of a personal income tax, which he credits for attracting businesses and residents from higher-tax jurisdictions.[7] This approach, combined with targeted tax reductions, has contributed to robust economic expansion, with Florida's GDP growth outpacing the national average in recent years due to population inflows and job creation. Empirical evidence from IRS migration data shows Florida gaining a net influx of over 100,000 income tax filers annually from interstate moves between 2021 and 2022, predominantly from high-tax states like New York and California, validating the causal link between low-tax policies and demographic shifts.[66] Post-COVID recovery under DeSantis featured one of the nation's strongest rebounds, with unemployment dropping to an average of 2.9% in 2023—below the U.S. rate—and remaining lower than the national figure for over 50 consecutive months through 2025.[67] [68] Florida's population surpassed 23 million by mid-2024, driven by net domestic migration of approximately 467,000 residents that year, fueling labor force growth to over 11.1 million by early 2025.[69] [70] Critics from progressive outlets have argued these gains exacerbate inequality by favoring corporations and high earners, yet data on sustained low unemployment and wage growth across sectors contradict claims of uneven benefits, as migration patterns reflect broad appeal to working families seeking affordability.[71] In fiscal management, DeSantis has exercised restraint through line-item vetoes, including $567 million from the $117.4 billion FY 2025–2026 budget signed on June 30, 2025, targeting pork-barrel projects to preserve surpluses accumulated from post-pandemic revenues.[7] [72] The accompanying tax relief package, enacted via HB 7031, provided $2 billion in cuts, including permanent repeal of the business rent tax, aimed at enhancing competitiveness without increasing deficits.[73] Additionally, 2023 tort reforms reduced frivolous litigation, leading to stabilized insurance markets; by October 2025, these changes prompted Progressive Insurance to refund nearly $1 billion to Florida policyholders, averaging $300 per customer, amid broader rate declines.[74] Allegations of donor favoritism in policy design lack substantiation against the backdrop of veto-driven fiscal discipline and verifiable economic metrics.

Education reforms and school choice

In March 2023, DeSantis signed House Bill 1, establishing universal school choice by eliminating income eligibility requirements for the Family Empowerment Scholarship and other programs, enabling all K-12 students to access scholarships for private schools, homeschooling, or other options.[75][76] This expansion made Florida's program the nation's largest, with nearly 1.4 million students benefiting from choice options including charters and private schools by 2025.[77] The policy aimed to empower parents by prioritizing student needs over district monopolies, with enrollment in choice programs growing significantly post-enactment.[75] DeSantis also enacted measures to restrict classroom instruction on divisive concepts, signing House Bill 7 in April 2022 to prohibit teachings aligned with critical race theory, such as claims of systemic racism inherent to American institutions or that individuals bear guilt for historical actions based on race.[78][79] Complementing this, House Bill 1557 (Parental Rights in Education), signed in March 2022, limited instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades unless age-appropriate and parentally notified, with expansions via House Bill 1069 in 2023 requiring parental consent for pronoun changes and further safeguarding against ideological impositions.[80][81] These reforms sought to refocus K-12 education on core academics and factual history, rejecting mandates that could instill guilt or division, while affirming parental authority over upbringing decisions.[80] Florida rejected federal education funds conditioned on equity or diversity mandates, including barring state and federal dollars for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that tied funding to ideological compliance, prioritizing merit-based allocation instead.[82][83] Teachers' unions, such as the Florida Education Association, criticized these changes as undermining public schools and contributing to score declines, attributing issues to underfunding and policy shifts.[84] However, state performance metrics contradicted such claims: in the 2024-25 school year, 71% of public schools earned A or B grades, up from 64% the prior year, with elementary A-rated schools rising four points and middle schools nine points.[85][86][87] These gains, amid expanded choice and curricular guardrails, indicated that reforms enhanced accountability and outcomes without the federal strings unions implicitly favored.[85]

COVID-19 policies and public health approach

Governor Ron DeSantis implemented a phased reopening plan for Florida on May 4, 2020, via Executive Order 20-112, allowing businesses such as restaurants and retail to resume operations at reduced capacity while prioritizing the protection of vulnerable populations, including the elderly in long-term care facilities.[88] Unlike many states that extended strict lockdowns, DeSantis rejected statewide mask or vaccine mandates, instead promoting voluntary measures, widespread testing, and targeted safeguards for high-risk groups, arguing that blanket restrictions caused disproportionate harm to economic activity, education, and mental health without commensurate reductions in transmission.[89] He publicly criticized federal officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci and President Joe Biden, for advocating uniform national policies that ignored regional data and overreached into state authority, particularly during the Delta wave when Biden urged interference with Florida's approach.[90][91] Florida's strategy emphasized focused protection, such as prohibiting visitors to nursing homes and expanding testing there early in the pandemic, resulting in a COVID-19 death rate in long-term care facilities of 2 per 100,000 residents as of May 2020—far below New Jersey's 51.3 per 100,000 under stricter policies that included admitting untested patients from hospitals.[92][89] Overall, Florida's age-adjusted COVID-19 mortality rate ended up 8% lower than the national average, with all-cause mortality from 2019 to 2020 exceeding Florida's per capita rate in 34 other states, many of which imposed prolonged lockdowns.[93][94] Excess death analyses, which account for underreporting and indirect pandemic effects, similarly positioned Florida favorably against locked-down peers like New York and California, where per capita deaths and economic contractions were higher despite extended restrictions.[95][96] Critics from left-leaning media and public health establishments labeled DeSantis' approach a "death cult" for resisting mandates, yet CDC data on nursing home outcomes and comparative state mortality undercut claims of policy-driven elderly deaths, as Florida avoided the early surges seen in states like New York that centralized care failures.[97] DeSantis' data-centric framework, informed by real-time metrics rather than modeled projections, preserved Florida's economy—adding jobs and population amid national downturns—while achieving vaccination rates comparable to or exceeding many mandate-heavy states, demonstrating empirical advantages in balancing public health with societal function.[98][93]

Social conservatism and cultural policies

DeSantis signed the Heartbeat Protection Act (SB 300) on April 13, 2023, prohibiting abortions after detection of a fetal heartbeat, typically around six weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for cases of rape, incest, or when the procedure is necessary to save the mother's life.[99][100] The law built on a prior 15-week ban enacted in 2022 following the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson decision overturning Roe v. Wade, and took effect on May 1, 2024, after the Florida Supreme Court upheld the earlier restriction.[101][102] A November 2024 ballot amendment to expand access to viability (around 24 weeks) garnered 57% support but failed to meet the required 60% threshold, preserving the six-week limit despite opposition from abortion-rights advocates.[103][104] In education and family matters, DeSantis signed House Bill 1557 on March 28, 2022, establishing the Parental Rights in Education Act, which mandates parental notification for changes in a student's mental or physical health status and restricts classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade unless it is age-appropriate or explicitly permitted by parents.[80][105] The measure, often mischaracterized by critics as prohibiting any discussion of homosexuality, emphasizes transparency and parental authority over school curricula, with expansions in 2023 extending restrictions to higher grades where content must align with state academic standards.[106] Complementing this, DeSantis enacted Senate Bill 254 on May 17, 2023, banning gender-affirming treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors, citing insufficient long-term evidence of benefits and risks of irreversible harm; the policy withstood a federal injunction in August 2024 via appeals court ruling, allowing enforcement pending further review.[107][108] DeSantis advanced measures countering perceived progressive cultural influences, including Senate Bill 262, the Digital Bill of Rights, signed June 6, 2023, which grants Floridians rights to access, delete personal data from social media platforms, and opt out of addictive algorithmic features, while prohibiting government requests for content removal.[109] Building on a 2021 law (SB 7072) targeting Big Tech deplatforming, these policies aim to curb private-sector censorship of conservative viewpoints.[110] On institutional ideology, he signed legislation in May 2023 prohibiting state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in public higher education, leading to the State Board of Education's January 2024 rule permanently barring such initiatives across the Florida College System; separately, a 2023 law forbids ESG (environmental, social, governance) criteria in state pension investments to prioritize financial returns over ideological mandates.[111][112][113] These initiatives, framed by DeSantis as defenses against "woke" overreach eroding family autonomy and merit-based systems, have drawn accusations of authoritarianism from left-leaning outlets and advocacy groups, yet correlated with his 2022 reelection landslide (19-point margin) and sustained Republican dominance in Florida, suggesting broad voter alignment despite national media portrayals.[114][115] Polling on specific measures remains mixed, with abortion restrictions facing opposition in ballot tests but gender-care bans enjoying majority parental approval in state surveys emphasizing child protection.[116][117]

Immigration enforcement and border security

In June 2019, DeSantis signed Senate Bill 168, which prohibits Florida state and local governments from enacting or maintaining sanctuary policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, including limitations on sharing information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or honoring ICE detainers.[118][119] The legislation empowers the state attorney general to pursue civil actions against non-compliant localities and authorizes the governor to suspend officials who implement such policies, aiming to ensure uniform enforcement amid perceived federal inaction on border security.[118] DeSantis expanded these measures in May 2023 by signing Senate Bill 1718, described by his administration as the strongest state-level anti-illegal immigration package in the U.S., which mandates that private employers with 25 or more employees use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the work eligibility of new hires starting July 1, 2023.[120] The law also criminalizes knowingly transporting undocumented immigrants into Florida, enhances penalties for human smuggling, and allocates $30 million for state-led removal operations, including partnerships with federal agencies to deport individuals with prior removal orders.[120] To highlight the burdens of sanctuary jurisdictions, Florida's 2022 budget under DeSantis included $12 million for a program relocating unauthorized migrants—such as the September 2022 transport of approximately 50 Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts—targeting self-proclaimed sanctuary destinations.[121] These policies positioned Florida in direct opposition to the Biden administration's immigration approach, prompting multiple lawsuits from Attorney General Ashley Moody, including a 2021 challenge to federal restrictions on state cooperation with ICE and a 2022 suit alleging violations of federal law through lax enforcement.[122][123] DeSantis administration officials argued that federal policies exacerbated illegal entries, contributing to increased state costs for incarceration and public services, with Florida reporting over 10,000 undocumented individuals in state prisons annually.[120] Enforcement efforts yielded tangible results, including a June 2025 ICE-led operation—the largest joint immigration action in Florida history—that arrested 1,120 criminal noncitizens, among them 378 with final removal orders and offenders convicted of serious crimes like homicide, sexual assault, and drug trafficking.[124] State seizures of fentanyl, often linked to cross-border smuggling networks, included amounts sufficient to kill Florida's entire population in recent months, with DeSantis emphasizing deterrence measures to curb inflows that empirical data ties to elevated overdose deaths and property crimes by noncitizens, despite critiques from advocacy groups dismissing such causal connections.[125][126] These actions correlated with localized reductions in illegal crossings via enhanced state patrols and transport programs, though comprehensive border-wide metrics remain influenced by federal dynamics.[127] On January 6, 2026, DeSantis announced that Florida's attorney general is seriously considering state-level criminal charges against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, potentially in Miami-Dade County, related to alleged drug trafficking and sending prisoners, including members of the Tren de Aragua gang, into the state, following a federal indictment against Maduro.[128]

Law enforcement and criminal justice reforms

During his governorship, Ron DeSantis prioritized bolstering law enforcement through increased funding and protections, including the allocation of $110 million in the 2023 Framework for Freedom Budget for payments to local first responders and proposals for 20-25% pay raises for state officers and firefighters.[129][130] He signed legislation providing bonuses to over 1,750 new recruits and funding for retired K-9 units, positioning Florida as leading in law enforcement recruitment amid national shortages.[131][132] DeSantis opposed movements to reduce police budgets, signing bills in 2021 that enabled the state to withhold funding from localities attempting to defund departments and increasing penalties for harassing officers on duty.[133][134] In June 2025, he stated that drivers blocked by protesters have the right to flee for safety and that the state would not hold them responsible for resulting injuries to protesters.[135] In 2023 and 2024, he advanced anti-crime packages emphasizing pretrial detention for violent offenders and rejecting leniency-oriented reforms, vetoing bipartisan bills that would have expanded early release or reduced certain penalties despite legislative support.[136][137] On sentencing, DeSantis supported mandatory minimums for felonies, signing 2025 laws imposing at least 10 years for repeat sexual offenses and 25 years for attempted first-degree murder with firearms, building on Florida's existing 10-20-Life statute for firearm-related crimes.[138][139] He has actively backed the death penalty, signing warrants for a record 15 executions in 2025 alone—more than any prior Florida governor in a single year—for capital felonies including murder and sexual battery, overriding clemency recommendations in some cases.[140] These deterrence-focused measures correlated with reported crime declines, including an 8.3% drop in total index crimes from 2020 to 2021 per state data, though analyses from outlets like The Marshall Project highlight incomplete reporting from agencies covering over 40% of the population, potentially understating trends in major urban areas.[141][142] DeSantis attributed reductions—such as 17.5% fewer robberies since 2017—to pro-law-enforcement policies, contrasting them with rises in Democrat-led states, while critics like the ACLU have argued such approaches foster over-policing; however, victimization surveys indicate sustained public safety gains outweighing these concerns when measured against baseline deterrence effects.[143][144]

Environmental management and conservation

DeSantis allocated substantial state resources to Everglades restoration, committing $2.5 billion over his first term starting in 2019 and ultimately delivering $3.3 billion by 2023, exceeding the initial pledge.[145] In the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget, he signed legislation providing $830 million for these efforts, including $550 million for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and additional funds for water quality improvements.[146] This funding supported projects like the C-43 Reservoir, with total state investments reaching $4.6 billion in the first three years of his second term by mid-2025.[147] To address harmful algal blooms, DeSantis reorganized the Red Tide Task Force in 2019, providing it with funding after over 15 years without dedicated resources, and signed Senate Bill 1552 to establish the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative.[148][149] The administration invested approximately $40 million since 2019 in detection and mitigation efforts, including $4.8 million allocated in the state budget for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's coastal algal bloom research.[150][151] While environmental groups urged emergency declarations during blooms in 2021 and 2025, DeSantis declined, citing ongoing funding and executive orders aimed at reducing bloom frequency through water infrastructure upgrades.[152][153][154] Invasive species management emphasized practical removal incentives, with the 2025 Florida Python Challenge achieving a record 294 Burmese pythons removed from the Everglades by 934 participants, tripling prior removal rates through partnerships with contractors like Invasive Species Solutions.[145][155][156] DeSantis highlighted these empirical successes in targeting ecosystem-disrupting invasives over symbolic measures like carbon emission reductions.[157] DeSantis rejected federal funds tied to the Inflation Reduction Act, including over $350 million for home energy efficiency programs and $3 million for pollution reduction, arguing they advanced "Green New Deal" policies with unacceptable strings attached.[158][159][160] He signed legislation in 2024 removing climate change references from state policy and repealing renewable energy grants, prioritizing Florida's economic growth—evidenced by sustained development without mandated transitions—over regulatory mandates from sources often critiqued for alarmism.[161][162] Critics from environmental advocacy groups, such as the Sierra Club, faulted this for undermining clean energy, though Florida's policies upheld voter-approved bans on fracking and offshore drilling while supporting domestic energy production elsewhere.[163][164][165]

Disaster preparedness and response

Under Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida has prioritized state-led disaster preparedness through investments in the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), including prepositioning resources like 42,000 linemen and activating 5,000 National Guardsmen for major storms.[166][167] This approach emphasizes rapid mobilization and cutting bureaucratic delays, with empirical outcomes including effective evacuations that limited fatalities relative to storm intensity in events like Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 landfall on September 28, 2022, which caused 149 confirmed deaths in Florida despite over $112 billion in damages.[168][169] DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Hurricane Ian on September 23, 2022, enabling FDEM to lead the State Emergency Response Team and fulfill 361 resource requests.[170][171] Response efforts included over 2,500 water rescues and deployment of 67 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission personnel, alongside distribution of 4 million hot meals, 15 million MREs, and 51 million bottles of water.[172][166] Power was restored to more than 2 million utility accounts within four days, and critical infrastructure like the Pine Island Bridge reopened in under three days, with the Sanibel Causeway following in 15 days—achievements attributed to state-directed engineering priorities over prolonged federal permitting.[166][173] Recovery funding exceeded $1 billion in obligated Public Assistance by mid-2023, including $910 million for the Rebuild Florida Hurricane Ian Housing Repair and Replacement Program and $100 million for stormwater and wastewater infrastructure repairs.[166][174] The state supplemented federal programs with initiatives like the first State-Led Non-Congregate Sheltering Program, providing 1,162 travel trailers, and removed over 4 million cubic yards of upland debris independently of FEMA timelines.[166] DeSantis's administration has critiqued federal processes for post-storm delays, as seen in broader assessments where state actions bridged gaps in Washington responsiveness, though coordination with FEMA occurred for Ian without public acrimony at the time.[175] Ongoing preparedness includes $1.2 billion in the 2024-2025 budget for disaster recovery and mitigation, alongside infrastructure enhancements like express lanes on I-4 for evacuation efficiency, announced in October 2025.[176][177] These measures have contributed to lower relative casualties in subsequent storms, such as fewer than 20 confirmed deaths from Hurricane Helene in 2024 despite widespread impacts, underscoring causal links between proactive stocking of supplies and swift deployment.[178][179]

Recent legislative achievements (2023–2026)

In April 2023, during an international trade mission to Israel, DeSantis signed House Bill 269 into law, providing law enforcement agencies with additional tools to combat antisemitism and prohibiting harassment based on religion or ethnicity.[180] This followed a similar ceremonial signing of antisemitism protections under House Bill 741 in Israel in 2019.[181] In May 2023, DeSantis signed Senate Bill 264 into law, prohibiting individuals affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing land in Florida, particularly restricting acquisitions near military installations, critical infrastructure, or agricultural properties exceeding specified acreage thresholds, with exemptions for U.S. permanent residents.[182] This measure aimed to safeguard state security amid concerns over foreign influence, though it faced legal challenges alleging discrimination.[183] DeSantis signed the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget on June 12, 2024, totaling $116.5 billion—a reduction from the prior year's $116.9 billion—incorporating $1.5 billion in tax relief measures, including $450 million for toll credits, while vetoing $949.6 million in appropriations to enforce fiscal discipline.[184] The budget prioritized Everglades restoration with $550 million and maintained reserves exceeding $17 billion. In July 2025, he approved the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget at $117.4 billion after line-item vetoes of $567 million, continuing emphasis on restraint by rejecting earmarks for non-essential projects.[185] During the March 4, 2025, State of the State address, DeSantis highlighted legislative successes including the enactment of a digital bill of rights to protect consumer data privacy and prohibitions on central bank digital currencies to prevent government overreach.[186] He touted Florida's resistance to federal impositions, such as rejecting vaccine mandates and ESG investment pressures, framing these as defenses of individual freedoms. Proposals to phase out local property taxes were discussed but not advanced in the session, with DeSantis prioritizing targeted tax holidays over broader reforms.[187] Education outcomes reflected policy impacts, with 71% of Florida schools earning A or B grades in the 2025 assessments—up from 64% in 2024—including 44% achieving A ratings, attributed to expanded school choice and accountability measures enacted post-reelection.[188] In August 2025, DeSantis allocated over $38 million through the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program to 19 rural communities for infrastructure like water systems and housing rehabilitation, supporting conservative priorities of local empowerment without urban bias.[189] In January 2026, DeSantis proposed that the Florida Legislature require candidates for federal office running from Florida to disclose their intentions regarding personal stock trading while in office, alongside support for U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna's legislation to prohibit individual stock trading by members of Congress.[190] In his January 2026 State of the State address, DeSantis highlighted key achievements, including nearly $9.7 billion in tax relief provided since taking office, progress toward paying down over 50% of state-supported debt, universal school choice serving 1.4 million students, doubled funding for cancer research, progress in Everglades restoration, strict immigration laws, law and order measures, reconstitution of the Florida State Guard, and pay increases for first responders, law enforcement, and teachers.[191] Despite intra-party tensions, including legislative overrides of select vetoes, DeSantis secured passage of conservative priorities like enhanced law enforcement funding and immigration restrictions, delivering on fiscal conservatism amid a Republican supermajority.[192]

Hope Florida initiative and related controversies

Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity is a state initiative launched on September 9, 2021, by First Lady Casey DeSantis to connect low-income Floridians with private-sector resources, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits as an alternative to traditional government welfare programs.[193] [194] Implemented by the Florida Department of Children and Families, the program employs Hope Navigators to assess needs and facilitate access to employment, housing, and other support services aimed at fostering economic self-sufficiency and reducing long-term reliance on public assistance.[195] Piloted in six counties in August 2020, it expanded statewide following the formal launch.[196] By 2024, the initiative had connected over 120,000 participants to aid, with nearly 30,000 individuals reducing or eliminating their dependence on government benefits, reportedly saving the state approximately $100 million in welfare expenditures.[197] [198] [199] Proponents, including Governor DeSantis, have cited these outcomes as evidence of the program's effectiveness in promoting self-reliance over perpetual government dependency.[200] [201] In late 2024, the Hope Florida Foundation, the program's nonprofit arm, received a $10 million donation from Centene Corporation as part of a $67 million settlement resolving allegations of Medicaid overbilling by the state of Florida.[202] [203] This transfer, finalized in September 2024, represented more than ten times the foundation's prior annual revenue and was intended to support program operations.[204] The funding arrangement sparked controversies, with critics alleging misuse of public Medicaid funds for political purposes, including grants to organizations opposing a 2024 marijuana ballot initiative and potential laundering through the foundation.[205] [206] [207] These claims prompted a Republican-led legislative investigation in early 2025 and an inquiry by the Leon County State Attorney's Office into possible financial crimes and fraud.[208] [209] In October 2025, a Leon County grand jury convened to review evidence, issuing subpoenas to foundation staff and hearing testimony from figures like former foundation president Tommy Andrade, who accused DeSantis aides of orchestrating the diversion.[210] [211] As of October 2025, no indictments have been issued, though the probe remains active and could involve state-level charges.[205] Governor DeSantis and supporters have defended the initiative, characterizing the scrutiny as politically motivated "lawfare" from intra-party rivals and Democrats seeking to undermine a proven aid model, with no evidence of personal enrichment or proven misuse.[212] [213] The administration emphasized legal compliance in the settlement and continued program expansions, such as "Activate Hope" for broader self-sufficiency services, amid board changes at the foundation but no cessation of operations.[194] [203]

2024 presidential campaign

Campaign launch and strategy

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis formally announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination on May 24, 2023, via an online audio event on Twitter Spaces co-hosted with Elon Musk.[214] [215] The launch, delayed from an initial in-person plan, drew over 400,000 participants but was hampered by repeated technical failures, including audio dropouts and server overloads, lasting over an hour before DeSantis could deliver his remarks.[216] In his announcement, DeSantis outlined a vision to extend Florida's governance model—characterized by low taxes, regulatory reductions, and opposition to progressive cultural mandates—to the national level under the theme "Make America Florida."[217] [218] DeSantis positioned his bid as an alternative to former President Donald Trump, highlighting his executive record in Florida as evidence of effective conservative leadership capable of delivering results without reliance on personal charisma or legal battles.[219] [220] The strategy emphasized competence in implementing policies like school choice expansion and economic deregulation, framing Florida's post-2022 growth and population influx as a blueprint for reversing national decline.[221] Campaign efforts concentrated on early contests, particularly the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, with DeSantis conducting over 100 town halls in Iowa alone to engage evangelical and rural voters.[220] [222] Supporting the official campaign committee, the super PAC Never Back Down—established in February 2023—played a central role by raising tens of millions from donors including tech entrepreneurs and finance executives, expending over $130 million in 2023 on advertising, field operations, and voter outreach.[223] [224] This outsourced model allowed rapid scaling of ground game advantages, such as door-to-door canvassing in key precincts, while DeSantis benefited from his gubernatorial travel infrastructure for efficient multi-state visits.[225] The approach aimed to build a durable organization independent of traditional party structures, though it faced scrutiny for blurring lines between coordinated and independent expenditures.[226]

Primary challenges and outcomes

DeSantis encountered intense competition in the Republican primaries primarily from former President Donald Trump, who maintained a commanding lead in national polls throughout 2023, often exceeding 50% support while DeSantis polled in the 10-20% range by mid-year before declining further.[227][228] He also vied with Nikki Haley for second place, as both sought to consolidate anti-Trump voters, but DeSantis struggled to differentiate himself amid Trump's dominance and Haley's rising donor appeal.[229] Campaign challenges included donor fatigue, with major supporters like real estate developer Robert Bigelow considering shifts to Trump by November 2023 amid DeSantis's stagnant polling and operational stumbles.[230] DeSantis participated in the first three Republican primary debates on August 23, September 27, and November 8, 2023, where he clashed with Haley over foreign policy—such as Ukraine aid, which he criticized as endless commitments—and domestic issues like abortion restrictions, positioning himself as more conservative.[231][232] While some observers noted substantive policy depth drawn from his Florida governance record, including detailed critiques of federal overreach, his performances drew mixed reviews, with critics highlighting a perceived stiff, "robotic" demeanor that hindered voter connection.[233][234] The Iowa caucuses on January 15, 2024, represented a pivotal test, where DeSantis invested heavily in grassroots organizing but finished second with 21.2% of the vote, trailing Trump's record-setting 51.0% and edging Haley's 19.1%.
CandidateVote PercentageDelegates Won
Donald Trump51.0%31
Ron DeSantis21.2%6
Nikki Haley19.1%3
[235][236] This outcome, despite exceeding expectations in voter turnout efforts, underscored low national viability, as subsequent New Hampshire polling showed further erosion and no viable path to overtaking Trump. DeSantis suspended his campaign on January 21, 2024, acknowledging the absence of a clear victory trajectory after eight months of effort.[237][238]

Endorsement and aftermath

On January 21, 2024, DeSantis suspended his presidential campaign and endorsed Donald Trump for the Republican nomination in a video statement posted to X, stating that Trump was superior to the alternative and calling for party unity against Democratic opponents.[239][240] The endorsement came after DeSantis finished second in the Iowa caucuses but struggled in subsequent primaries, positioning Trump as the clear frontrunner.[241] Following the endorsement, DeSantis aligned with Trump's campaign efforts, including a private meeting in South Florida on April 28, 2024, to discuss shared priorities such as policy alignment and party strategy.[242] After Trump's victory in the November 2024 general election, DeSantis refrained from immediate indications of future national ambitions and redirected attention to his gubernatorial responsibilities. In November 2025, he told CNN's Jake Tapper he was "not thinking about anything" regarding 2028 due to the new administration's early stage and the need to accomplish goals. However, in a March 2026 appearance on Sean Hannity's podcast "Hang Out with Sean Hannity," when directly asked if he would run for president again, DeSantis responded "We'll see." He elaborated that in the 2024 Iowa caucuses, he believed he would have received around 90% of Trump's voters if Trump had not run, describing them as conservative voters aligned with his vision rather than non-conservative alternatives. DeSantis noted that "the timing didn’t work out" in 2024 and stated that one must "just see what happens," while stressing his focus on demonstrating in Florida that "conservatism works." These comments indicate he has not ruled out a second presidential bid in 2028, though he remains focused on completing his term as governor, which ends in January 2027. Early 2028 Republican primary polling as of March 2026 shows him trailing Vice President JD Vance and others like Marco Rubio. In early 2025, DeSantis emphasized Florida's fiscal strengths during preparations for the legislative session, announcing a focus on fiscal conservatism for the 2025-2026 budget to maintain the state's surplus and low debt levels amid national economic pressures.[243] The regular session convened on March 4, 2025, where DeSantis outlined priorities in his State of the State address, including continued advancements in education, economic growth, and conservative reforms building on prior achievements like tax cuts and regulatory reductions.[244] The session extended into June to finalize budget items, underscoring DeSantis's role in sustaining Florida's post-pandemic recovery metrics, such as unemployment below 3.5% and population growth exceeding 2% annually.[245]

Personal life

Marriage and family

Ron DeSantis married Jill Casey DeSantis (née Black) on September 26, 2009, at a wedding chapel in the Walt Disney World Resort's Grand Floridian Hotel in Florida.[246] [247] The ceremony occurred shortly after DeSantis returned from naval service in Iraq.[246] Casey DeSantis, born June 26, 1980, in Ohio, previously worked as a television journalist and news anchor at WJXX and WJXT in Jacksonville, Florida, and as a producer and on-air host for the PGA Tour. The couple has three children: daughter Madison (born 2016), son Mason (born 2018), and daughter Mamie (born in March 2020).[248] [249] Their youngest child, Mamie, was the first baby born to a sitting Florida governor and first lady in office in more than 50 years.[250] [251] The DeSantis family maintains a relatively private personal life centered in Tallahassee, with Casey DeSantis actively involved in family-oriented initiatives such as Hope Florida, which provides support to vulnerable families.[249]

Religious and personal influences

DeSantis was raised Catholic in Dunedin, Florida, where he attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, reflecting his family's devout background with ties to working-class communities in western Pennsylvania.[252] He and his family regularly attend Mass at Catholic parishes in Tallahassee, and he has described faith as central to his household, emphasizing the power of prayer in personal challenges.[253][254][255] His worldview draws from military service in the U.S. Navy Reserve, where deployment to Iraq as a Judge Advocate General officer—advising SEAL commanders during the 2007 surge—instilled lessons in leadership and confronting adversity, motivated by the September 11, 2001, attacks and his grandfather's World War II experiences.[256][257][25] Academic pursuits in history at Yale University further shaped his perspective, as evidenced in his writings on the American founding era and originalist interpretations of constitutional principles, highlighting themes of resolve against historical threats.[258] DeSantis maintains an active lifestyle rooted in physical discipline, with reported interests in fitness activities, and favors grounded, heartland values over those associated with urban coastal establishments, informed by his family's modest Midwestern origins.[259]

Electoral history

DeSantis was elected to represent Florida's 6th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, defeating Democrat Heather Beaven with 56.0% of the vote to her 43.6%.[260] He won re-election in 2014 against Democrat David Cox by a margin of 62.5% to 37.5%.[261] In 2016, he secured a third term over Democrat Sanford McCullough, receiving 58.5% to McCullough's 41.5%.[262]
YearElectionPartyVotes%OpponentPartyVotes%
2012U.S. House FL-6Republican176,87956.0Heather BeavenDemocratic137,80843.6
2014U.S. House FL-6Republican191,37662.5David CoxDemocratic114,78037.5
2016U.S. House FL-6Republican233,21558.5Sanford McCulloughDemocratic165,49941.5
DeSantis won the 2018 Florida gubernatorial election against Democrat Andrew Gillum in a close contest certified after a machine recount, taking 49.6% (4,076,186 votes) to Gillum's 49.2% (4,043,723 votes).[263] He was re-elected in 2022 by a wide margin over Democrat Charlie Crist, capturing 59.4% (6,200,169 votes) to Crist's 40.0% (3,644,609 votes), the largest Republican gubernatorial victory margin in Florida in over four decades.[63][62]
YearElectionPartyVotes%OpponentPartyVotes%
2018Governor of FloridaRepublican4,076,18649.6Andrew GillumDemocratic4,043,72349.2
2022Governor of FloridaRepublican6,200,16959.4Charlie CristDemocratic3,644,60940.0
DeSantis announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination on May 24, 2023, but suspended his campaign on January 21, 2024, after finishing second in the Iowa caucuses with 21.2% of the vote to Donald Trump's 51.0%.[264] His name remained on ballots in several states post-suspension, including Florida where he received about 5% in the March 19 primary.[265]

Publications and writings

DeSantis authored Dreams from Our Founding Fathers: First Principles in the Age of Obama, a 2011 book critiquing Barack Obama's policies through the lens of originalist constitutional principles and advocating for limited government. The work, self-published during his initial congressional campaign, emphasized fiscal conservatism, national security, and adherence to the U.S. Constitution's founding intent. His second book, The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival, was published on February 28, 2023, by Broadside Books, an imprint of HarperCollins.[266] Described as a memoir and policy manifesto, it details DeSantis's upbringing, military service, and governorship, positioning Florida's responses to COVID-19, education reforms, and economic policies as a model for national revival, with emphasis on parental rights, economic freedom, and resistance to federal overreach.[266] The book debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list and served as a cornerstone of his 2024 presidential campaign platform.[266] DeSantis has contributed numerous op-eds to major outlets, often addressing conservative policy priorities. Notable examples include a 2023 USA Today piece outlining an economic independence plan to counter federal spending excesses[267] and a 2024 New Hampshire Journal essay framing his presidential bid around New Hampshire's "Live Free or Die" ethos.[268] In a March 2025 Wall Street Journal op-ed, he advocated abolishing the U.S. Department of Education to prioritize state-led reforms and American excellence.[269] A October 2025 New York Times contribution, co-authored with former Rep. David Trone, argued for congressional term limits in response to government shutdown threats.[270] These writings consistently reflect DeSantis's themes of constitutional fidelity, anti-establishment reform, and state sovereignty.

References

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  35. DeSantis: Congress Must Reject Deal with Iran - Vote Smart
  36. Ron DeSantis' Voting Records on Issue: Immigration - Vote Smart
  37. - JUSTICE AGAINST SPONSORS OF TERRORISM ACT
  38. Rep. Ron DeSantis - Scorecard 115: 87% | Heritage Action
  39. Rep. Ron DeSantis - Scorecard 114: 88% - Heritage Action
  40. - EXAMINING THE ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT AGAINST IRS ...
  41. DeSantis: Investigation of IRS Targeting is a Sham - YouTube
  42. [PDF] Written Statement Ron DeSantis United States Representative ...
  43. IRS impeachment leader under fire over fundraising - POLITICO
  44. [PDF] BENGHAZI - House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
  45. - TERRORIST ATTACK IN BENGHAZI: THE SECRETARY OF ...
  46. House Judiciary Committee Examines Misconduct by IRS ...
  47. House Oversight Republicans Call for Koskinen's Removal | Tax Notes
  48. Trump-backed DeSantis wins Florida GOP gubernatorial primary
  49. Trump tweets full endorsement of Ron DeSantis - Tampa Bay Times
  50. DeSantis rides Trump endorsement to win - The Florida Times-Union
  51. Trump's man in Florida overtakes gubernatorial front-runner - Politico
  52. DeSantis launches campaign against Gillum by telling Floridians to ...
  53. Far from the storm-ravaged Panhandle, the DeSantis and Gillum ...
  54. DeSantis wins Florida gubernatorial race as Gillum concedes - Politico
  55. Democrat Andrew Gillum Concedes Florida Governor's Race To ...
  56. As Florida recount wraps up, Democrat Gillum concedes | PBS News
  57. Florida gubernatorial election, 2022 (August 23 Republican primary)
  58. DeSantis wins big, with an eye toward 2024 - POLITICO
  59. DeSantis defeats Crist, wins 2nd term as Florida governor - AP News
  60. Where Crist, DeSantis stand on six key issues for Florida
  61. Florida Governor Election Results 2022: DeSantis Defeats Crist
  62. DeSantis wins 2022 Florida governor's race by largest margin in 40 ...
  63. Florida Governor Election Results 2022: Live Map - Politico
  64. Voter Turnout - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State
  65. https://www.apnews.com/article/florida-governor-race-2022-midterm-elections-4b2fe3a05668ed67119511838339110e
  66. How Do Taxes Affect Interstate Migration? - Tax Foundation
  67. Unemployment Rate in Florida (FLUR) | FRED | St. Louis Fed
  68. Florida's Statewide Unemployment Rate Has Remained Lower Than ...
  69. Florida's population tops 23 million, growing faster than almost any ...
  70. Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Florida's Labor Force ...
  71. Is Florida's Migration Tide Turning? - The American Prospect
  72. DeSantis' line-item veto toll: Almost $600M axed from 2025-26 budget
  73. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Signs 2025 Tax Bill into Law | Insights
  74. https://www.flgov.com/eog/news/press/2025/governor-ron-desantis-announces-1-billion-auto-insurance-refunds-result-floridas
  75. Governor Ron DeSantis Announces School Choice Success
  76. 8 States Expanded School Choice to All K-12 Families in 2023
  77. Ron DeSantis on X: "Florida leads the nation in education freedom ...
  78. DeSantis signs bill banning critical race theory in schools - WPTV
  79. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' anti-critical race theory law to take effect
  80. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Historic Bill to Protect Parental Rights ...
  81. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Sweeping Legislation to Protect the ...
  82. Florida public colleges barred from using state and federal funds for ...
  83. DeSantis-led Florida has rejected $11 billion in federal funding in ...
  84. Florida teachers' union blasts DeSantis, Legislature, for student ...
  85. Florida schools' A-to-F grades released and show improvement
  86. South Florida schools retain A ratings in 2025 | Miami Herald
  87. Statewide school grades show improvement says DeSantis - WLRN
  88. Coming Out of the Dark? Florida Governor Issues First Phase of ...
  89. Did Florida Get It Right Against COVID-19? - Think Global Health
  90. Florida Gov. DeSantis criticizes Biden and Fauci in CPAC speech
  91. DeSantis responds to Biden criticism of COVID in Florida | wtsp.com
  92. Gov. DeSantis defends state's response to COVID-19 in nursing ...
  93. Criticisms from Left and Right Miss the Mark: Florida Had a Strong ...
  94. Compared to Florida, 34 states had a higher rate of all - Facebook
  95. Chart comparing New York and Florida on COVID-19 is ... - PolitiFact
  96. Why major study argues Florida's COVID death rate compares ...
  97. COVID-19 Mortality | Stats of the States - CDC
  98. Apples and Oranges: Contrasting economic policy in New York and ...
  99. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Heartbeat Protection Act
  100. DeSantis signs Florida GOP's 6-week abortion ban into law - AP News
  101. Six-week abortion ban takes effect in Florida - NPR
  102. Florida Supreme Court upholds 15-week abortion ban, but voters ...
  103. Florida's amendment to protect abortion rights fell short of passing ...
  104. Florida voters reject abortion rights amendment opposed by DeSantis
  105. House Bill 1557 (2022) - Parental Rights in Education - Florida Senate
  106. Ron DeSantis signs the so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill - NPR
  107. DeSantis signs Florida ban on transgender treatment for minors
  108. Appellate court allows Florida to enforce gender-affirming care ban
  109. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Legislation to Create a Digital Bill of ...
  110. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Bill to Stop the Censorship of ...
  111. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a bill banning DEI initiatives ... - NPR
  112. State Board of Education Passes Rule to Permanently Prohibit DEI ...
  113. New Florida Law Prohibits Use of ESG Factors in Government ...
  114. A guide to Ron DeSantis's most extreme policies in Florida - Vox
  115. DeSantis highlights social conservative policy achievements, priorities
  116. Poll: Abortion rights draws support as most call current law "too strict"
  117. Poll shows abortion rights measure falling just short of passage in ...
  118. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs SB 168: Federal Immigration ...
  119. Florida governor signs bill banning sanctuary policies | PBS News
  120. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Strongest Anti-Illegal Immigration ...
  121. The Story Behind DeSantis's Migrant Flights to Martha's Vineyard
  122. Governor DeSantis and Attorney General Moody Announce Florida ...
  123. DeSantis opens new fight with Biden over immigration - POLITICO
  124. Largest joint immigration operation in Florida history leads to ... - ICE
  125. Enough Fentanyl Seized to Kill All of Florida
  126. Governor DeSantis Highlights Florida's Law and Order Priorities
  127. Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Results of First-of-Its-Kind ...
  128. DeSantis: Florida 'looking very seriously' at state charges for Maduro
  129. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Framework for Freedom Budget
  130. Backing the blue with green: Gov. DeSantis wants a raise for law ...
  131. Governor Ron DeSantis Announces More Than ... - FloridaJobs.org
  132. Governor Ron DeSantis | In Florida, we back the blue and that ...
  133. Florida governor vows to defund cities that defund police - WESH
  134. Governor DeSantis Signs Legislation to Protect Florida's Law ...
  135. 'That's their fault': Florida drivers have the right to hit protesters if threatened, DeSantis says
  136. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Third Consecutive Anti-Crime, Pro ...
  137. DeSantis Vetoes Three Criminal Justice Reform Bills
  138. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Legislation to Protect Children ...
  139. New Florida laws on crimes, law enforcement, inmate treatment begin
  140. Florida record for executions is driving a national increase
  141. FDLE - Florida crime rate drops for record 50-year low
  142. Florida Crime at '50-Year Low'? DeSantis' Data Has an Issue
  143. DeSantis Campaign Press Release - Crime in California vs. Florida
  144. Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Law and Order Legislation
  145. https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/python-no-more-desantis-talks-initiatives-funding-prize-money-predator-python-removal-everglades
  146. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Florida Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget
  147. Governor Ron DeSantis Celebrates Grand Opening of C-43 ...
  148. Red Tide Task Force - Protecting Florida Together
  149. Florida Red Tide Mitigation & Technology Development Initiative
  150. Gov. DeSantis: Stop the Red Tide Greenwash Redux | Sierra Club
  151. Gov. DeSantis Dismisses Calls For A Red Tide State Of Emergency
  152. DeSantis urged to declare emergency over toxic red tide algae off ...
  153. Gov. DeSantis Urged to Declare State of Emergency Due to Red Tide
  154. Governor DeSantis Signs Executive Order to Achieve Even More ...
  155. https://www.wftv.com/news/local/294-pythons-removed-record-breaking-capture-floridas-everglades/5BT24P3ZRFEA3NAR52ORCHKNII/
  156. FWC announces results and winners of the 2025 Florida Python ...
  157. https://www.facebook.com/GovRonDeSantis/videos/governor-desantis-highlights-new-success-in-removing-invasive-pythons-from-the-e/2567679056946166/
  158. DeSantis is refusing Biden's IRA money - POLITICO
  159. DeSantis Under Fire For Rejecting Millions In Home Energy Funding ...
  160. Florida Says No to Federal Funding Aimed at Greenhouse Gas ...
  161. DeSantis signs law deleting climate change from Florida policy
  162. DeSantis Signs Law Deleting Climate Change From Florida Policy
  163. Governor DeSantis Fails to Protect Florida's Environment and ...
  164. Fact Check: DeSantis Banned Fracking and Drilling
  165. A closer look at DeSantis' record on fracking: Florida voters banned ...
  166. Florida Provides Updates on Hurricane Ian Recovery Efforts One ...
  167. ICYMI: Florida Response to Hurricane Ian Continues - FDOT
  168. The death toll from Hurricane Ian is up to 149 | WUSF
  169. [PDF] HURRICANE IAN
  170. Governor DeSantis declares State of Emergency for Hurricane Ian
  171. Governor Ron DeSantis Issues Updates on State Preparedness for ...
  172. Governor Ron DeSantis Issues Updates on Hurricane Ian Recovery ...
  173. ICYMI: Governor Ron DeSantis Issues Updates on Hurricane Ian ...
  174. State of Florida Reaches One Billion in Obligated Public Assistance ...
  175. DeSantis blasts Washington's post-hurricane assistance
  176. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Fiscal Year 2024-2025 “Focus on ...
  177. Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Major Advancements for ...
  178. DeSantis: 'Likely more than 15' people have died in Florida from ...
  179. Florida Division of Emergency Management Highlights Governor ...
  180. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Legislation in Israel Further Combatting Antisemitism
  181. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Anti-Semitism Protections Bill CS/CS/HB 741
  182. DeSantis Signs Bill Banning 'Countries of Concern' From Buying ...
  183. Florida property ban has Chinese citizens fuming | CNN Business
  184. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Fiscal Year 2024-2025 “Focus on ...
  185. Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Florida Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget
  186. Governor Ron DeSantis Delivers State of the State Address
  187. Key takeaways from Gov. DeSantis' State of the State address
  188. ICYMI: Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Positive Achievements ...
  189. Governor Ron DeSantis Announces More Than $38 Million for ...
  190. Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Proposal to Increase Accountability and Transparency in Congressional Stock Trading
  191. Governor Ron DeSantis Announces the Floridians First 2026-2027 Budget
  192. https://www.floridapolitics.com/archives/752702-gov-desantis-celebrates-rural-towns-as-he-gives-state-grants-for-infrastructure-projects/
  193. Timeline - Hope Florida
  194. Executive Office of the Governor
  195. Hope Florida | Florida DCF
  196. [PDF] Yesterday, First Lady Casey DeSantis launched Hope Florida
  197. Since First Lady Casey DeSantis and I launched the Hope Florida ...
  198. Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis Highlight ...
  199. DeSantis calls Hope Florida a 'great success story.' Lawmakers ...
  200. Hope Florida is a success story. It reinvents the way government ...
  201. DCF Helps Florida Families Thrive in 2024
  202. Florida Medicaid regulator offers explanation of scrutinized $10M ...
  203. Hope Florida Foundation faces board shakeup, $10M scrutiny
  204. Hope Florida: A timeline of how a DeSantis-backed state charity was ...
  205. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/23/hope-florida-grand-jury-likely-probing-alleged-financial-crimes/
  206. Grand jury to review $10 million Medicaid diversion in Hope Florida ...
  207. Why the Hope Florida scandal isn't going away, and why it could get ...
  208. Grand jury probing Hope Florida hears testimony - Miami Herald
  209. 30 questions for the Hope Florida grand jury | Column
  210. Florida Grand Jury Hears Evidence in Investigation of Charity Tied to ...
  211. Andrade Testifies Before Hope Florida Foundation Grand Jury
  212. Ron DeSantis tries on Donald Trump 'lawfare' defense in Hope ...
  213. Gov. Ron DeSantis gives fiery defense of Hope Florida - YouTube
  214. Ron DeSantis launches 2024 presidential campaign ... - AP News
  215. Ron DeSantis will launch 2024 presidential campaign during Twitter ...
  216. A bumpy campaign launch for Ron DeSantis - Axios
  217. DeSantis' 2024 campaign pitch: Make America Florida - Axios
  218. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis launches 2024 GOP presidential campaign
  219. DeSantis, once a rising Republican star, ran a presidential ... - CNN
  220. Why Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign failed | Miami Herald
  221. Ron DeSantis jabs at Donald Trump, Nikki Haley in Iowa closing ...
  222. Understanding the collapse of the DeSantis campaign | Stars and ...
  223. Super PAC supporting DeSantis spent $130 million on ... - Politico
  224. PAC Profile: Never Back Down Inc - OpenSecrets
  225. Inside the collapse of Ron DeSantis's campaign funding experiment
  226. CLC Alleges DeSantis Illegally Coordinated With Never Back Down ...
  227. Trump Leads DeSantis In Our New 2024 Republican Primary ...
  228. Trump Doubles Lead Over DeSantis In 2024 GOP Primary Race ...
  229. New poll shows DeSantis's support among national Republicans ...
  230. Ron DeSantis' biggest donor considers abandoning him for Trump
  231. 6 key takeaways from the second Republican debate of 2023
  232. 6 takeaways from the third Republican primary debate
  233. DeSantis gets mixed reviews from 1st GOP presidential debate
  234. Is Ron DeSantis a Robot? An Investigation (in Pictures)
  235. Ron DeSantis takes second place in Iowa Republican caucuses - NPR
  236. Iowa Caucus Results 2024: Trump Wins - The New York Times
  237. Ron DeSantis drops out of 2024 presidential race - CBS News
  238. 'We don't have a clear path to victory': DeSantis exits presidential race
  239. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis drops his presidential bid, endorses Trump
  240. DeSantis ends 2024 presidential campaign | CNN Politics
  241. Ron DeSantis ends 2024 campaign, endorses Trump over Haley
  242. Trump and DeSantis, once GOP rivals, meet in South Florida to talk ...
  243. Governor Announces Focus on Fiscal Responsibility 2025-2026 ...
  244. Florida opens a new legislative session — with political storm clouds ...
  245. Florida legislative session extended: what passed, what's next - WUSF
  246. Ron DeSantis and Wife Casey DeSantis: Marriage, Relationship ...
  247. Ron DeSantis, who denounced Disney, actually got married there
  248. All About Ron DeSantis' Wife Casey DeSantis and Their 3 Kids
  249. Casey DeSantis | Executive Office of the Governor
  250. Florida Gov. DeSantis, wife Casey announce birth of baby Mamie
  251. Gov. DeSantis, wife Casey announce birth of baby Mamie - AP News
  252. Salena Zito: Ron DeSantis's blue-collar roots in Western Pennsylvania
  253. Ron DeSantis opens up about being Catholic - Deacon Greg Kandra
  254. DeSantis speaks with EWTN about power of prayer, family as ...
  255. Ron DeSantis Talks Faith, Family in CBN EXCLUSIVE: We're a ...
  256. What Ron DeSantis Learned From His Military Experience in Iraq
  257. DeSantis leans into his military experience to set himself apart in ...
  258. The Forgotten Ron DeSantis Book - The Atlantic
  259. How Midwest roots shaped Ron DeSantis' political values - NBC News
  260. Ron DeSantis, Ted Yoho win freshman seats
  261. Ron DeSantis wins second term to Congress
  262. Florida U.S. House 6th District Results: Ron DeSantis Wins
  263. Florida Governor Election Results 2018 - Politico
  264. Ron DeSantis Defeats Andrew Gillum In Tight Florida Governor's Race
  265. Florida Republican Presidential Primary Election Results 2024
  266. The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival
  267. Governor DeSantis' Op-Ed in USA Today: "America's economy is ...
  268. Op-Ed by Ron DeSantis: I Want to Be a 'Live Free or Die' President
  269. https://www.wsj.com/opinion/ron-desantis-good-riddance-to-the-u-s-education-department-387e2ea3
  270. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/opinion/desantis-trone-term-limits.html
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