Ronald Dion DeSantis, commonly known as Ron DeSantis, is an American conservative politician who has been serving as the 46th governor of Florida since 2019. He is a member of the Republican Party and previously represented Florida’s 6th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2018.
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, on September 14, 1978, DeSantis spent most of his childhood in Dunedin, Florida. He attended Yale University and Harvard Law School, where he graduated with honors.
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Ron DeSantis — Education
During his early life, DeSantis grew up in a family of Italian heritage. His parents met at Youngstown State University and moved to Florida, where he spent his childhood in Dunedin. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School and Dunedin High School, where he played on the Dunedin National team in the 1991 Little League World Series. After graduating, he pursued his higher education at Yale University, where he excelled in baseball and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Following Yale, DeSantis taught history at Darlington School in Georgia before attending Harvard Law School, where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree with honors.
Military Duty
In 2004, DeSantis joined the United States Navy and rose to the rank of lieutenant. He served as a legal advisor to SEAL Team One and was stationed at Joint Task Force Guantanamo in 2006. DeSantis was deployed to Iraq in 2007 and later served as a Special Assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida. He was honorably discharged from active military duty in 2010.
Ron DeSantis – Political Career
DeSantis began his political career in 2012 when he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in District 6. He served three terms before running for governor in 2018. He is known for his strong fundraising abilities and has raised over $100 million for his 2022 re-election campaign, becoming the first candidate from any state to achieve this milestone solely through donations. Unlike some other candidates who self-financed their campaigns, DeSantis relies on support from state parties, national parties, wealthy GOP donors, and contributions from businesses and individuals across all 50 states. His successful fundraising efforts position him as a promising contender among the 2024 presidential candidates for the Republican Party.
DeSantis was first elected to Congress in 2012 and was reelected in 2014 and 2016. He was a founding member of the Freedom Caucus and aligned himself with President Donald Trump. DeSantis was critical of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He briefly ran for the U.S. Senate in 2016 but withdrew when Marco Rubio decided to seek reelection. In 2018, DeSantis won the Republican nomination for the Florida gubernatorial election and narrowly defeated the Democratic nominee, Andrew Gillum, in the general election. Ron DeSantis assumed office as the 46th governor of Florida in January 2019, and his national prominence within the Republican Party grew during the COVID-19 pandemic as he advocated for keeping Florida open for business.
As governor, DeSantis took a different approach from many other states in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He resisted implementing measures such as mask mandates, stay-at-home orders, and vaccination requirements. Despite this approach, Florida’s COVID-19 death rate remained near the national average, while the state experienced above-average economic growth and population growth. In May 2021, DeSantis signed a law prohibiting businesses, schools, and government entities from requiring proof of vaccination. He also reduced state-government spending, resulting in a large budget surplus.
DeSantis oversaw recovery efforts after hurricanes Ian and Nicole and championed the controversial Parental Rights in Education Act. He was reelected by a significant margin in the 2022 Florida gubernatorial election. Following his reelection, DeSantis announced his candidacy for the 2024 United States presidential election on May 24, 2023.
DeSantis is an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. In 2022, he earned a spot on Time magazine’s prestigious Time 100 list, which recognizes the 100 most influential individuals globally.
Ron DeSantis Books
He has authored two books, “Dreams From Our Founding Fathers: First Principles in the Age of Obama” in 2011 and “The Courage to Be Free” in 2023.
Ron DeSantis – Presidential Candidate for 2024 elections
Ron DeSantis announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in May 2024. He shared the news through a campaign video and a Twitter event with Elon Musk, which faced technical glitches. Prior to the event, DeSantis filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission and had an interview scheduled with Fox News.
During his tenure as governor, DeSantis has pursued controversial policies focused on culture wars, including signing a six-week abortion ban and targeting the teaching of LGBTQ+ and race-related issues in public schools.
In his campaign video, DeSantis positioned himself as a leader for the American comeback, emphasizing Florida as a model for the nation. He highlighted choosing facts over fear, prioritizing education over indoctrination, and supporting law and order.
The announcement was expected, considering DeSantis’s reelection victory, the publication of his campaign-oriented memoir, and his visits to early primary states while reportedly expanding his campaign team. He enjoys support from influential donors, has accumulated significant campaign funds, and consistently ranks second to Donald Trump in Republican primary polls.
DeSantis kicked off his campaign with a live interview on Twitter Spaces, moderated by Elon Musk. The event faced technical difficulties but eventually covered topics such as media criticism, Covid public health mandates, and what DeSantis referred to as the “woke Olympics” of the left. He reiterated his hardline stance on education and immigration, vowing to go further than Trump had.
DeSantis’s strong control over the Florida legislature has solidified his position on the far right of the Republican Party. He seeks to offer Trumpist policies favored by the party base without the controversies associated with Trump himself. However, DeSantis continues to trail behind Trump in polls, while also facing criticisms of his interpersonal skills and endorsements from other Florida Republicans.
Ron DeSantis Disney Controversy
DeSantis has not been without controversy. One notable conflict involved his battle with Disney, which began in April 2022 when the Florida Senate voted to terminate Disney World’s tax privileges. This decision aimed to abolish the taxing district that granted Disney special self-governing privileges within its theme park. In February 2023, DeSantis signed legislation that ended Disney’s self-governing status over the Reedy Creek Improvement District and established a new state-controlled district.
In response, Disney filed a lawsuit against DeSantis, arguing that the legislation would harm its business operations. The bill was approved on May 5, 2022, and once signed by the governor, the newly created Central Florida Tourism Oversight District will have jurisdiction to oversee the theme park and potentially reverse Disney’s efforts to challenge it.
Ron DeSantis — Salary and Net Worth
Compared to other national politicians, DeSantis does not possess significant wealth. As of May 2023, his assets included $105,755 in a thrift savings plan, $30,302 in the Florida Retirement System, a governor’s salary of $134,181, and $235,000 in a USAA account. He benefits from free housing at the Florida Governor’s Mansion. Additionally, he reported having approximately $21,000 in student loan debt. At the end of 2021, his net worth was reported to be $318,987.
Ron DeSantis – wife Casey Black
DeSantis and his wife, Casey Black, first crossed paths on a golf course at the University of North Florida. Casey had previously worked as a television host for the Golf Channel and later became a television journalist and news anchor at WJXT. The couple tied the knot on September 26, 2009, in a chapel located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Their wedding ceremony was officiated by a Catholic priest, as DeSantis is a Roman Catholic.
Initially residing in Ponte Vedra Beach near St. Augustine, the couple had to relocate to Palm Coast, north of Daytona Beach, when their area was redrawn into the neighboring 4th congressional district. This move allowed DeSantis to continue representing the 6th district. Together, they have three children.
Ron DeSantis – Height
He is 6 feet tall.
Ron DeSantis – Ethnicity
Ron DeSantis is of Caucasian ethnicity
Trivia of Ron DeSantis – Snapshot
- Full Name: Ronald Dion DeSantis
- Date of Birth: September 14, 1978
- Place of Birth: Jacksonville, Florida, United States
- Political Party: Republican
- Education: DeSantis attended Yale University, where he studied history, and later earned his Juris Doctor (JD) from Harvard Law School.
- Military Service: DeSantis served in the United States Navy as a lawyer and was deployed to Iraq as an advisor to SEAL Team One.
- Congressional Career: Before becoming the governor of Florida, DeSantis served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 6th congressional district from 2013 to 2018.
- Governorship: DeSantis became the 46th governor of Florida in January 2019.
- Presidential Ambitions: DeSantis is considered a potential candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
- Controversies: DeSantis has been involved in several controversies, including his stance on COVID-19 restrictions, his battle with Disney over tax privileges, and his signing of controversial legislation on various issues such as abortion and education.
Ron DeSantis
