Gov. Ron DeSantis became communicator in chief following hurricanes Helene and Milton, mounting frequent press conferences and visits to disaster zones. Here, he tours Keaton Beach after Hurricane Helene made landfall on Sept. 26, 2024, via governor’s press office.
Once hailed by Florida Republicans as a potential contender for the 2024 presidential election, Gov. Ron DeSantis has been a dominant force in state politics.
True, the Republican governor’s presidential ambitions quickly faded once Donald Trump secured his GOP base in the primaries, leading to DeSantis’ exit from the primary race via an announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
DeSantis bowed to Trump, endorsing him as the 2024 GOP presidential nominee.
Looking ahead to Florida’s 2025 legislative session, questions remain about how DeSantis will navigate this more complex political landscape. Til now, the Republican-led Florida Legislature has largely deferred to him on his priorities, including expanding gun rights and cracking down on DEI programs at public universities and private businesses.
The presidential outcome on Nov. 5 could affect DeSantis’ power in Florida. He and Trump were close while Trump was in office but, if Trump is reelected, would DeSantis dare to challenge him on policies he disagrees with? Going against MAGA Republicans’ leader could mean serious consequences for DeSantis, who may have ambitions for another White House bid in the future.
DeSantis has been quick to battle with President Joe Biden over federal policies and would likely do the same if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the race.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signing HB 7 bill into law April 22, 2022. (Screenshot/Florida Channel)
The governor inserted Florida into many of the culture wars. Remember the “Stop Woke Act” he signed into law? The 2022 law, described as “Individual Freedom,” restricts conversations about race and gender in schools and workplaces.
Florida could now be on the hook for nearly $750,000 in legal fees after businesses successfully challenged part of the law, according to a report by the News Service of Florida.
The attorneys for the businesses filed a motion seeking $749,642 in fees and an additional $41,144 in costs, the news outlet reported. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker in Tallahassee ruled in August that the plaintiffs were entitled to seek fees, with the state facing an Oct. 28 deadline to respond.
One thing that could boost DeSantis’ profile is his handling of the state’s response to two back-to-back hurricanes that hit Florida. He has emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant due to ongoing hazards like downed power lines and flooded areas in the Tampa Bay region.
Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm that made landfall near Sarasota on Oct. 9, caused massive power outages in the state. Millions of customers across Florida lost electricity, although as of Friday the number was down to 11,923.
Even though DeSantis has continued to hold press conferences and make state resources available to those affected, fuel shortages and long gas lines lingered. According to gas tracking site GasBuddy, 33.5% of gas stations in Tampa and Sarasota areas remained without fuel as of Friday.
Special session?
While DeSantis has been active in addressing the immediate needs of Floridians, his call for a special legislative session to address rising condominium costs has not garnered support from Republican lawmakers.
Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, a Republican, wrote a letter to Senate members in August, expressing her objection to a special session.
Sen. Kathleen Passidomo via her website
“I am increasingly concerned by what I see as a growing narrative, ripe with misconceptions and inaccuracies, regarding the condo safety legislation passed in the years following the devastating collapse of the Champlain Towers in Surfside,” Passidomo wrote. “Some have suggested a special session be called to address or alter existing safety and reserve funding requirements and other related issues. I do not agree.”
Passidomo has “no intention at the present time of utilizing” her authority to “convene a special session,” she added.
This reluctance by some GOP leaders to back DeSantis’ proposals could signal a shift in their willingness to follow his demands.
Still, DeSantis’ endorsements in elections carry weight, according to a report by the Tallahassee Democrat. Recently, he endorsed U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, a Panama City Republican running for reelection in Congressional District 2, and he’s offered his support to other GOP candidates in legislative races as well as a slew of school board candidates. Two years ago, he scored an 83% success rate on 30 endorsements for school boards.
“No question he still has a lot of influence over the party,” state Sen. Joe Gruters of Sarasota, a former Republican Party of Florida chair, told the Democrat. “Even though the presidential campaign didn’t work out, I think people still appreciate the job that he’s done as governor.”
Legal pot
DeSantis though hasn’t been able to unify Republicans on the marijuana debate and whether it should be legal for adults in Florida.
On the ballot this November, Florida voters will decide whether to approve Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older. (Florida voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment years ago that legalized medical cannabis.)
Republican Party of Florida oppose allowing adults to use marijuana recreationally but Gruters has become a proponent of recreational cannabis legalization.
In an interview with Florida Phoenix’s Mitch Perry, Gruters explained why he has come out now as a supporter.
“It’s based on a lot of conversations that I had with constituents and people that are in the process,” he said. “To me it’s a realization of where we are, where we’re at as a society, what people are doing, what’s happened with medical marijuana overall, and I think it’s just been an evolving decision to which I said, ‘Let’s come out and support it.’”
The Florida Young Republicans and the Tampa Bay Young Republicans also support Amendment 3.
Sen. Joe Gruters speaks at a Senate Rules committee on March 1, 2022. (Screenshot/Florida Channel)
The measure is backed by Smart & Safe Florida which campaign finance records show is largely backed by Trulieve.
Another area where DeSantis may face backlash is in his efforts to address the state’s property insurance crisis. A recent CBS News 60 Minutes investigation into Florida’s insurance companies has put pressure on the governor to find solutions.
Two years after Hurricane Ian, whistleblowers say some insurance companies altered reports to reduce payouts, leaving around 50,000 homeowners still fighting for repairs, CBS News reported. That has led to lawsuits filed by alleged victims.
Then there’s Amendment 4, which would limit government interference with abortions before viability, against which DeSantis has unleashed the power of state agencies via anti-amendment advertising and webpages. He’s even threatened criminal prosecution against television stations for broadcasting pro-amendment advertising.
Thus far, the courts have declined to intervene in the governor’s anti-amendment propaganda but, as reported by Florida Phoenix’s Jackie Llanos, a federal judge has temporarily barred the administration from intimidating and coercing the television stations.
Both amendments give every-day Floridians a chance to rein in their governor. Both draw broad support, although a recent Mason-Dixon poll shows Amendment 3 with 58% support, short of the 60% threshhold to pass, and Amendment 4 at 61%.