Governor of Florida

Governor of Florida
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Post	Governor
Body	Florida
Incumbent	Ron DeSantis
Incumbentsince	January 8, 2019
Style	The Honorable
Residence	Florida Governor's Mansion
Seat	Tallahassee, Florida
Appointer	Popular election
Termlength	Four years, renewable once consecutively
Inaugural	William D. Bloxham
Formation	July 3, 1845
Salary	$130,273 (2013)

Governor of Florida The governor of Florida is the chief executive of the State of Florida, charged with enforcing state law, overseeing the Cabinet and administering state agencies, and serving as commander-in-chief of the Florida National Guard. The office traces its origins to statehood in 1845 and has been held by prominent figures such as Marion County native Spessard Holland, civil rights-era politician LeRoy Collins, and modern officeholders like Lawton Chiles and Ron DeSantis. The governor plays a central role in state policymaking, budget formation, and appointments to boards and commissions.

History

The office was established upon admission of Florida to the Union on July 3, 1845, succeeding territorial leadership under William P. DuVal and others from the Florida Territory. Early holders such as William D. Bloxham and Madison S. Perry navigated antebellum issues tied to slavery and the lead-up to the American Civil War. During Reconstruction, governors like Ossian B. Hart and Marion B. Peay contended with policies from the Reconstruction Era and interactions with federal authorities including the United States Congress and Radical Republicans. The 20th century saw governors such as Cary A. Hardee, Fred P. Cone, and Spessard Holland manage the impacts of the Great Depression, World War II, and postwar growth tied to the Kennedy Space Center and Florida Keys development. Midcentury governors LeRoy Collins and Haydon Burns engaged civil rights debates involving figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and institutions like the University of Florida. Recent decades feature governors Bob Graham, Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist, Rick Scott, and Ron DeSantis addressing issues connected to Hurricane Andrew, Everglades restoration, and federal-state relations with the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Powers and Duties

The governor holds executive authority under the Florida Constitution and exercises veto power over bills passed by the Florida Legislature, including the line-item veto on appropriations, interacting with leaders such as the President of the Florida Senate and the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. The office issues executive orders, oversees emergency response for events like Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Katrina, and directs the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol. The governor appoints members to the Florida Supreme Court and lower courts, subject to the Florida Judicial Nominating Commission, and fills vacancies to federal posts when interacting with entities such as the United States Senate. The governor's clemency power coordinates with the Florida Commission on Offender Review and impacts matters involving the Florida Department of Corrections and pardons for individuals connected to high-profile cases like those litigated in United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Election and Term of Office

Governors are elected statewide in partisan elections administered by the Florida Division of Elections and certified by the Secretary of State of Florida. Elections occur every four years during midterm cycles, with eligibility and term limits defined by the Florida Constitution of 1968. The governor serves a four-year term, limited to two consecutive terms, a system influenced by earlier amendments following debates in the Florida Constitutional Convention of 1968 and subsequent ballot measures overseen by the Florida Supreme Court on procedural challenges. Campaigns often involve fundraising and endorsements from organizations such as the National Republican Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association, and are influenced by national issues involving the United States Congress and presidential politics.

Administration and Cabinet

The governor heads the executive branch and presides over the Florida Cabinet, historically composed of officials like the Attorney General of Florida, the Chief Financial Officer of Florida, and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The governor nominates agency heads for departments such as the Florida Department of Education, Florida Department of Health, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and works with entities including the Florida Board of Governors and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on policy initiatives like Everglades restoration and coastal management. The governor’s staff includes chiefs of staff, legal counsel often drawn from firms such as Greenberg Traurig or academic backgrounds at University of Miami School of Law and Florida State University College of Law, and liaises with local officials in Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Duval County during crises.

List of Governors

A complete list of Florida governors begins with territorial administrators like William P. DuVal and continues through state governors including W. DuBose Richardson? and prominent twentieth-century figures such as LeRoy Collins, Haydon Burns, Claude R. Kirk Jr., Reubin Askew, Bob Graham, Lawton Chiles, Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist, and Rick Scott, up to the current incumbent Ron DeSantis. This succession reflects shifting political coalitions involving parties like the Democratic Party (United States) and the Republican Party (United States), and intersects with federal actors including various United States Presidents.

Salary and Residence

The governor’s statutory salary has been set by the Florida Legislature; historically figures such as $130,273 were reported, with adjustments subject to law and oversight by budget committees including the Florida House Appropriations Committee and the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee. The official residence is the Florida Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee, Florida, used for official functions alongside venues like the Florida State Capitol and events associated with institutions such as Florida A&M University and Florida State University.

Category:Government of Florida