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!
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, […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday pushed for one of his top aides to become the next Education Commissioner, replacing Manny Diaz, Jr. ahead of his new job as interim President of the University of West Florida. DeSantis recommended Anastasios "Stasi" Kamoutsas, one of his four deputy chief of staff officers, to be Florida's top education […]
In a historic first, the Florida Board of Governors on Tuesday blocked Dr. Santa Ono from becoming the University of Florida’s next president, caving to Trump world’s bitter criticism of his past support for diversity initiatives and allegations of antisemitism. Ono, who resigned his post as president of the University of Michigan just hours after […]
In a sequel to his stringent anti-squatter law signed last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a pair of bills targeting squatters at hotels, motels, and commercial businesses on Monday. DeSantis lauded the Sunshine State's massive strides in property rights at a bill-signing ceremony hosted in Sarasota Monday morning, where he greenlit SB 322, "Property Rights," […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis blamed President Joe Biden's immigration policies and media "lies" after eight people—including a Holocaust survivor—were wounded by Molotov cocktails chucked by an antisemitic Egyptian in the U.S. illegally. DeSantis spoke at a Sarasota press conference Monday morning, where he condemned 45-year-old suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman for allegedly firebombing a Colorado demonstration calling […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis ripped into the Legislature for not fulfilling their "one responsibility" to pass a budget, blaming lawmakers for failing to provide Floridians with a tax holiday ahead of the state's months-long looming hurricane season. DeSantis's comments came at a Jupiter press conference on Friday, where he cautioned residents on how to prepare for […]
After Florida state lawmakers demanded an investigation into the Hope Florida Foundation, a Florida House committee convened to investigate any alleged fiduciary ties between the foundation and any political committee. The legislative investigation led by Rep. Alex Andrade (R) ended, and now Leon County State Attorney Jack Campbell is allegedly looking into the documents Rep. […]
Florida families still can't recover certain damages if a doctor accidentally kills some of their loved ones, thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis's plan to veto a new measure repealing the state's so-called "free kill" law. Dubbed "free kill" by critics, the controversial 35-year-old law disallows unmarried 25-year-olds or their parents from suing physicians for pain […]
When high schooler Lucy Stevenson’s godbrother used AI to create an explicit video of her—based solely on a photo she posted to Instagram at 16—the Pensacola teen’s family was stunned to learn he couldn’t be criminally charged. A new Florida law would change that. HB 757, approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday, makes it […]
Florida animal abusers will be publicly tracked while those who abandon pets during emergencies will face prison time, according to two new laws signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday. Named after two dogs abused by their owners, HB 255 and SB 150 strengthen penalties and increase transparency for those who neglect, harm, or kill […]
