Ron DeSantis

Ron DeSantis is an American politician and military officer serving as the 46th Governor of Florida since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously represented Florida's 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2013 to 2018. His tenure as governor has been marked by high-profile clashes with the Biden administration, corporations like The Walt Disney Company, and a prominent, though ultimately unsuccessful, bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Early life and education

Born on September 14, 1978, in Jacksonville, Florida, he was raised in Dunedin. He attended Dunedin High School where he was captain of the baseball team. For his undergraduate studies, he graduated *cum laude* from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in history in 2001. While at Yale, he was a member of the varsity baseball team. He then earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 2005, where he served as an editor for the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy.

Political career

After serving as a JAG Corps officer in the United States Navy, which included deployments supporting the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan, he entered politics. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2012, representing a district that included St. Augustine and parts of Volusia County. In Congress, he was a founding member of the Freedom Caucus and served on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He resigned from Congress in 2018 after winning the gubernatorial election, defeating the Democratic nominee, Andrew Gillum. He was re-elected by a historic margin in the 2022 election, defeating Charlie Crist.

2024 presidential campaign

On May 24, 2023, he officially launched his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission. His campaign, heavily promoted by supportive media outlets like Fox News, initially positioned him as the leading alternative to former President Donald Trump. However, after a series of campaign setbacks and failing to win any early contests, including the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, he suspended his campaign on January 21, 2024. He subsequently endorsed Donald Trump.

Political positions

His governance is characterized as staunchly conservative, with a focus on cultural and political issues he labels as "woke". He has signed numerous controversial bills, including the Parental Rights in Education Act (dubbed "Don't Say Gay" by critics), the Stop WOKE Act, and a six-week abortion ban. He clashed intensely with The Walt Disney Company over the company's opposition to the Parental Rights in Education Act, leading to a state takeover of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he opposed mandates for masks and vaccines, promoting the state as a refuge for "individual freedom." He has also championed policies on immigration, including arranging flights of migrants to Martha's Vineyard.

Personal life

He married former television host Casey DeSantis (née Black) in 2010. They have three children and reside at the Florida Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee. He is a practicing Catholic. An author, he has published books including "The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival." He remains a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy Reserve.

Category:1978 births Category:Governors of Florida Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Florida Category:Republican Party governors of Florida Category:Yale University alumni