Ron DeSantis’ 2 terms in office fundamentally altered Florida’s political landscape, cementing conservative policies through strategic control of state institutions

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida has left a significant impact on the state's political landscape over his two terms in office. Elected in 2018, DeSantis, a Republican, won with a slim margin, and initially aligned himself with then-President Donald Trump. From the outset, DeSantis sought to expand his executive powers and control over state institutions.

With a Republican majority in the Legislature, particularly after the supermajority took hold in 2022, DeSantis used his veto power to push through conservative policies without much legislative pushback. This strategy was evident in Manatee County, where DeSantis vetoed $4 million in county budget requests and placed the county under a state DOGE audit after local officials criticized his pro-development legislation and rejected his endorsed candidates.

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly defined DeSantis' image as a governor. Initially following the Trump administration's emergency lockdowns, DeSantis later reversed pandemic restrictions and used emergency powers to gain more control. By the pandemic's end, Florida had recorded over 100,000 COVID-related deaths, ranking eighth in deaths per capita. During this time, DeSantis claimed that Florida's response had been safer than other states.

DeSantis also expanded executive power through a $500 million emergency fund in 2022, allowing him to spend over $1 billion on federal immigrant detention centers, including Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades. He has used his emergency powers to deploy the Florida National Guard to stop immigrants from reaching Florida's shores. Additionally, DeSantis has required state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, leading to a surge in immigration-related arrests in the state.