Ron DeSantis
Along with up-to-date political coverage, The Floridian takes the opportunity to post about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the legislation he signs into law, and the political maneuvering he does around the state and country. Read more here!
Gov. Ron DeSantis greeted roughly 160 Americans evacuated from Israel on Friday, revealing that the rescue efforts were likely the "most challenging" the state's emergency response team has ever dealt with. DeSantis spoke at an early morning press conference at the Tampa airport Friday morning, just hours after the second evacuation flight out of Cyprus […]
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier hopes to convert an old Everglades airport into the "Alligator Alcatraz,” a new detention facility for captured migrants in the state illegally. Uthmeier posted a one-minute video to his social media account on Thursday, pitching "Alligator Alcatraz" as the state's sixth migrant detention facility in partnership with the federal Immigration […]
TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Legislature sent Gov. Ron DeSantis a severe new bill on Wednesday allowing Florida prosecutors to sentence human traffickers to death if they've exploited a young child or someone with mental disabilities. DeSantis already pledged at a press conference last week to sign the bill, SB 1804, into law. The measure, which takes effect […]
TALLAHASSEE—Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the eighth death warrant of 2025, tying the Florida record for most executions carried out in a year if all goes according to plan. DeSantis set Michael Bernard Bell's execution date for July 15, just weeks after rapist and murderer Thomas Gudinas is set to die on June 24. DeSantis quietly […]
TALLAHASSEE—Gov. Ron DeSantis arranged for four planes to evacuate to Tampa 1,500 young Jewish-Americans taking shelter in Cyprus, prompted by the burgeoning—and bloodying—six-day airstrike war between Israel and Iran. The 1,500 participants of a Birthright Israel trip fled to Lanarca, Cyprus from Israel on a 13-hour journey aboard the Crown Iris cruise ship on Tuesday, […]
TALLAHASSEE—An independent watchdog group dedicated to saving Florida tax dollars identified $416 million in the newly passed state budget that they believe Gov. Ron DeSantis should heavily scrutinize—and perhaps veto. Florida TaxWatch released its annual "Budget Turkey" list on Tuesday, a day after the Legislature finalized a $115.1 billion budget for the next fiscal year. […]
TALLAHASSEE—An hour before midnight on the 105th day of session, the Florida Legislature approved a $115.1 billion budget for the next fiscal year, putting the much-anticipated kibosh on a drawn-out standoff between Republican leaders. The near-unanimous vote across both chambers Monday night after 11 p.m. saved the Florida government from a partial shutdown, which would […]
A top Florida Republican in contention to be the next Lieutenant Governor has flown to Israel to help evacuate trapped Americans, prompted by the barrage of bombs exchanged between Israel and Iran in a rapid escalation of Middle Eastern tensions. Sen. Jay Collins, a former Green Beret representing parts of Tampa, announced Sunday that he […]
TALLAHASSEE—In anticipation of President Donald Trump's new plan to "phase out" the nation's disaster response agency, Florida Senators are scrambling to close future gaps with a last-minute budget item pushing millions into the state's volunteer military force. Senate budget chair Ed Hooper, a Republican, told reporters on Friday that he's worried about the Federal Emergency […]
TALLAHASSEE—David Jolly, the leading Democratic candidate for governor, believes that the wealthy independents eyeing Florida’s top job won’t jump into the 2026 race—as long as he plays his cards right. And the Republicans comparing him to an off-brand Charlie Crist? “They’re playing checkers. I’m playing chess," said Jolly. In an exclusive sit-down interview with The […]
In the early morning hours of May 24, 1994, Rachelle Smith walked out of Orlando's Barbarella nightclub and headed toward her car, parked in a nearby lot. 20-year-old Thomas Lee Gudinas was watching. Waiting. Hiding. The Massachusetts native was crouched behind another car as Smith passed him around 1 a.m., causing the young woman—whose fiancé […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed four measures targeting sexual predators into law on Tuesday, strengthening penalties for child groomers, targeting deepfake porn, and lengthening the prison sentences for certain sexual offenders. The massive bill signing happened at a Tuesday press conference in Jacksonville, where DeSantis paraded Florida's no-nonsense stance against the sexual abuse of minors. DeSantis […]
The Broward County Sheriff, embroiled in controversy for refusing to track down and arrest unauthorized migrants, should be suspended and replaced if he continues to deprioritize illegal immigration efforts, two top allies to Gov. Ron DeSantis and likely picks to lead high office said Monday. Gregory Tony, the sheriff of the county with the most […]
On the 81st anniversary of D-Day, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed three pro-veteran bills into law. The Florida governor spoke alongside veterans of World War II—one of whom is nearing his 105th birthday—at a Port Charlotte press conference, where he stressed the importance of protecting veterans from exploitation, making it easier for them to […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Thursday to protect some of Florida's bravest heroes, its firefighters. Speaking at the 81st Annual Convention of the Florida Professional Firefighters in Palm Beach Gardens, DeSantis approved HB 929. The bill aims to boost the health and safety of firefighters by addressing key major issues. Reps. Erika Booth (R-St. […]
TALLAHASSEE—Days after Florida's top higher education board shot down a presidential finalist for the first time ever, House Speaker Danny Perez called the move "embarrassing" and preventable had a bill despised by Gov. Ron DeSantis passed the legislature. Perez, a Miami Republican who's clashed with DeSantis for months, spoke to reporters on Thursday, two days […]
TALLAHASSEE—Gov. Ron DeSantis’s controversial new law revamping how citizen-led amendments are put on the ballot will almost fully stay on the books, an Obama-appointed federal judge decided Wednesday. Judge Mark Walker largely sided with the state in his 33-page order, denying all but one of activist groups’ swath of pleas to block various parts of […]
Anastasios "Stasi" Kamoutsas, a top aide to Gov. Ron DeSantis, was confirmed as the next Education Commissioner in a unanimous vote on Wednesday, just one day after another prospective education leader was shot down by DeSantis allies. The Florida Board of Education resoundingly approved of Kamoutsas, one of DeSantis's four deputy Chief of Staff officers, […]
