Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Ron DeSantis
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Ron DeSantis made an impact.
Ron DeSantis is an American politician and the current Governor of Florida, serving since 2019. A Republican, he previously represented Florida's 6th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2018. Before entering politics, DeSantis served as a naval officer and worked as an attorney. He ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination but withdrew from the race in January 2024.
1 day ago : Ron DeSantis Greeted with Boos and Chants at WWE Event in Tampa, Florida
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis faced an unexpected reception at a WWE event in Tampa, Florida. Videos captured the crowd booing and chanting, seemingly expressing their disapproval of the governor during his appearance. The crowd reaction was very surprising.
1949: Posthumously pardoned the Groveland Four
On January 11, 2019, three days after taking office, DeSantis posthumously pardoned the Groveland Four, a group of black men falsely convicted of rape in 1949.
2004: Commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy
In 2004, DeSantis was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy and assigned to the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps during his second year at Harvard Law School.
2004: DeSantis Joins U.S. Navy
In 2004, after graduating from Yale and Harvard Law, DeSantis joined the U.S. Navy.
2006: DeSantis at Guantanamo Bay
In 2006, DeSantis arrived at Joint Task Force Guantanamo, working with detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
2006: Promotion to Lieutenant
In 2006, DeSantis was promoted from lieutenant, junior grade to lieutenant.
2006: DeSantis Stationed at Guantanamo
In 2006, DeSantis was stationed at Joint Task Force Guantanamo.
2007: DeSantis Serves as Legal Advisor to SEAL Team One
In 2007, DeSantis reported to the Naval Special Warfare Command Group and was assigned as a legal advisor to SEAL Team One, deploying to Iraq in the fall.
April 2008: Reassigned to Naval Region Southeast Legal Service
In April 2008, DeSantis returned to the U.S. and was reassigned to the Naval Region Southeast Legal Service and was appointed as a special assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Florida.
February 2010: Honorable Discharge and Reserve Commission
In February 2010, DeSantis received an honorable discharge from active duty and accepted a reserve commission as a lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the U.S. Navy Reserve.
2010: DeSantis' Honorable Discharge
In 2010, DeSantis was honorably discharged from active military duty.
2012: DeSantis Runs for Congress
In 2012, DeSantis ran for Congress after founding LSAT Freedom and working as a litigator at Holland & Knight.
2012: Elected to U.S. House of Representatives
In 2012, DeSantis was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 6th congressional district after aligning himself with the Tea Party movement.
2012: DeSantis First Elected to Congress
In 2012, DeSantis was first elected to Congress.
2013: Signed "No Climate Tax Pledge"
In 2013, DeSantis signed a "No Climate Tax Pledge" against any tax hikes to fight global warming and voted in favor of H.R. 45 to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
2013: DeSantis Becomes U.S. Representative
In 2013, Ron DeSantis began serving as the U.S. representative from Florida's 6th congressional district.
2014: Introduced Bill on Justice Department Reporting
In 2014, DeSantis introduced a bill that would have required the Justice Department to report to Congress whenever any federal agency refrained from enforcing laws.
2014: Let Seniors Work Act
In 2014, DeSantis introduced the Let Seniors Work Act to repeal an incentive to retire and exempt those above 65 from the Social Security payroll tax.
2014: DeSantis Supports Venezuelan Protests
In 2014, DeSantis supported the Venezuelan protests and criticized the Venezuelan government's response, comparing it to Fidel Castro's techniques.
2014: Re-elected to U.S. House of Representatives
In 2014, DeSantis was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
2014: DeSantis Reelected to Congress
In 2014, DeSantis was reelected to Congress.
May 2015: Announced Candidacy for U.S. Senate
In May 2015, DeSantis announced his candidacy for the 2016 United States Senate election in Florida.
2015: Criticism of Obama's Immigration Policies
In 2015, DeSantis criticized Obama's immigration policies and co-sponsored Kate's Law to increase penalties for aliens who unlawfully reenter the U.S.
2015: Founding Member of the Freedom Caucus
In 2015, DeSantis was a founding member of the Freedom Caucus.
2016: Introduced Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act
In 2016, DeSantis introduced the Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act, which would have allowed states to create their own accreditation systems.
2016: Re-elected to U.S. House of Representatives
In 2016, DeSantis was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
2016: DeSantis Reelected to Congress and Senate Campaign
In 2016, DeSantis was reelected to Congress. Also in 2016 he withdrew from his campaign for U.S. Senate after Marco Rubio sought reelection.
2016: Withdrawal from Senate Race
In 2016, DeSantis withdrew from the Senate race after Rubio ran for reelection, and DeSantis ran for reelection to the House.
May 17, 2017: Initiation of Mueller Investigation
On May 17, 2017, DeSantis said that the order that initiated the Mueller investigation of President Trump "didn't identify a crime to be investigated".
2017: Voted for Trump Tax Cuts
In 2017, DeSantis voted for the Trump tax cuts.
January 5, 2018: Filed to run for governor
On January 5, 2018, Ron DeSantis filed to run for the office of governor of Florida, seeking to replace the term-limited Republican incumbent Rick Scott.
August 28, 2018: Won the Republican primary
On August 28, 2018, Ron DeSantis won the Republican primary for Florida governor, defeating his main opponent, Adam Putnam.
2018: Retires from the House of Representatives
In 2018, DeSantis retired from his position in the House of Representatives, where he served three terms, to run for governor of Florida.
2018: Elected Governor of Florida
In 2018, DeSantis was elected governor of Florida.
2018: DeSantis Wins Republican Nomination
In 2018, DeSantis won the Republican nomination in the gubernatorial election and defeated Andrew Gillum.
2018: DeSantis Ends Term as U.S. Representative
In 2018, Ron DeSantis ended his service as the U.S. representative from Florida's 6th congressional district.
January 8, 2019: Became governor of Florida
On January 8, 2019, Ron DeSantis became the governor of Florida. At age 40, he was the youngest person to assume the office since 1913.
February 2019: End of Navy Reserve Service
In February 2019, DeSantis's Navy Reserve service ended, with the rank of lieutenant commander, a month after his gubernatorial inauguration.
June 2019: Signed $91.1 billion budget
In June 2019, Ron DeSantis signed a $91.1 billion budget passed by the Florida legislature the previous month. At the time, it was the largest budget in the state's history, though DeSantis cut $131 million in appropriations.
2019: DeSantis Becomes Governor of Florida
In 2019, Ron DeSantis became the 46th governor of Florida.
December 2020: Extended unemployment waivers
In December 2020, Ron DeSantis ordered the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to extend unemployment waivers until February 27, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: DeSantis as a likely 2024 candidate
During 2020, media outlets viewed DeSantis as a likely candidate for the 2024 presidential election, and notable people urged him to run.
February 2, 2021: DeSantis announces support for legislation to hold tech companies accountable
On February 2, 2021, Ron DeSantis announced support for legislation aimed at preventing alleged political censorship by tech companies. This was in response to social media networks removing Trump from their platforms. The proposed legislation sought to prohibit tech companies from de-platforming political candidates in Florida.
February 27, 2021: Extended unemployment waivers until February 27, 2021
In December 2020, Ron DeSantis ordered the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to extend unemployment waivers until February 27, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 5, 2021: DeSantis announces bonus for first responders
On May 5, 2021, Ron DeSantis announced that all Florida police officers, firefighters, and paramedics would receive a $1,000 bonus.
June 2021: Led effort to ban teaching of critical race theory
In June 2021, Ron DeSantis led an effort to ban the teaching of critical race theory in Florida public schools, describing it as "teaching kids to hate their country."
June 2021: Signed $101.5 billion budget
In June 2021, Ron DeSantis signed a $101.5 billion budget for Florida, using his line-item veto to cut $1.5 billion, including $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act money for an emergency response fund.
September 14, 2021: Announced replacement of FSA test
On September 14, 2021, Ron DeSantis announced that Florida would replace the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) test with a system of three smaller tests throughout the school year.
September 2021: DeSantis introduces police signing bonus
In September 2021, Ron DeSantis introduced a $5,000 signing bonus for Florida police officers in a bid to attract out-of-state police recruits.
November 22, 2021: Announced temporary waiver of Florida's gasoline tax
On November 22, 2021, Ron DeSantis announced that he would temporarily waive Florida's gasoline tax in the next legislative session due to a significant increase in gasoline prices.
December 2, 2021: DeSantis announces reactivation of Florida State Guard
On December 2, 2021, Ron DeSantis announced that as part of a $100 million funding proposal for the Florida National Guard, $3.5 million would be allocated to the reactivation of the Florida State Guard, a volunteer state defense force that had been inactive since 1947.
December 15, 2021: Announced the Stop WOKE Act
On December 15, 2021, Ron DeSantis announced a new bill, the Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act ("Stop WOKE Act"), which would allow parents to sue school districts that teach critical race theory.
2021: Florida legislature passed DeSantis's top priorities
In its 2021 session, the Florida legislature passed DeSantis's top priorities. During his tenure, the Republican-dominated Florida Legislature enacted much of DeSantis's legislative agenda, often on rapid timelines.
April 14, 2022: Signed 15-week abortion ban into law
On April 14, 2022, Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy in Florida, with limited exceptions.
May 2022: Florida's unemployment rate sat around two percent
Since May 2022, Florida's unemployment rate has sat around two percent, below the national average.
September 2022: DeSantis declares state of emergency for Hurricane Ian
In September 2022, Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for all of Florida as Hurricane Ian approached and asked for federal aid ahead of time. He partnered with Elon Musk of SpaceX to use Starlink satellite Internet service to help restore communication across the state.
2022: DeSantis Reelected as Governor
In 2022, DeSantis defeated Charlie Crist in the gubernatorial election, achieving the state's largest margin of victory for a governor's election in 40 years.
2022: Re-elected Governor of Florida
In 2022, DeSantis was re-elected governor of Florida.
2022: DeSantis seen as a contender for the 2024 nomination
In 2022, Ron DeSantis became seen as a contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, particularly after the midterm elections where he was reelected governor by almost 20 percentage points. In a straw poll at the 2022 Conservative Political Action Conference DeSantis came in second with 28%, to Trump's 59%.
2022: DeSantis's pandemic management
In 2022, a study placed Florida's age-adjusted COVID-19 death rate at the nation's 12th lowest, and it was considered his handling of the pandemic may have benefitted him in his reelection campaign.
April 2023: Trump leads DeSantis in national polls
In April 2023, Donald Trump led Ron DeSantis in national polls for the Republican nomination, but DeSantis was performing better in battleground polling of the general election for the 2024 presidential election.
May 2023: DeSantis announces plan to send personnel to Texas
In May 2023, Ron DeSantis announced plans to send over 1,000 personnel, including National Guard troops, to Texas to assist in stemming illegal immigration across the southern border.
May 24, 2023: DeSantis Announces Presidential Candidacy
On May 24, 2023, DeSantis announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.
2023: Reestablished the Florida Department of Commerce
In 2023, Ron DeSantis reestablished the Florida Department of Commerce, consolidating Visit Florida, Enterprise Florida and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
2023: Reversed position on Social Security
While running for president in 2023, DeSantis reversed his previous position on Social Security, stating, "we’re not going to mess with Social Security."
January 2024: DeSantis Ends Presidential Campaign
In January 2024, Ron DeSantis withdrew his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
January 21, 2024: DeSantis Withdraws Presidential Candidacy
On January 21, 2024, DeSantis withdrew his presidential candidacy and endorsed Trump.
2024: DeSantis considered for Secretary of Defense
In 2024, due to controversy over Pete Hegseth's nomination, Trump considered nominating DeSantis as Secretary of Defense.
2024: Increased speculation of a presidential run
The release of DeSantis's memoir, The Courage to Be Free, and book tour, increased 2024 presidential speculation.
February 24, 2025: Established the Florida Department of Government Efficiency
On February 24, 2025, Ron DeSantis established the Florida Department of Government Efficiency, a state-level equivalent of the federal Department of Government Efficiency.
2026: Ineligible for Re-election
DeSantis is not eligible to run for a third term in 2026.
Mentioned in this timeline
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Michael Bloomberg is an American entrepreneur politician and philanthropist He...
Puerto Rico is a self-governing Caribbean archipelago and island functioning...
Marco Rubio is an American politician attorney and diplomat who...
The Affordable Care Act ACA also known as Obamacare is...
Washington D C the capital of the United States is...
Trending
25 minutes ago Angels Designate Tim Anderson for Assignment: Former All-Star's Roster Spot in Jeopardy
25 minutes ago 49ers Release Mitch Wishnowsky, Sign Thomas Morstead: End of an Era
25 minutes ago Kyle Gibson signs minor league deal with Tampa Bay Rays after Cardinals stint.
26 minutes ago Christian Walker Hit by 96 MPH Pitch, Exits Game, X-rays Negative
1 hour ago Malo Gusto blamed, subbed early in Chelsea's Conference League match against Real Betis.
2 hours ago Trump Nominates Emil Bove to 3rd Circuit Appeals Court, Seeks Confirmation
Popular
Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter was an influential Australian zookeeper...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
Cristiano Ronaldo often called CR is a Portuguese professional footballer...
LeBron James nicknamed King James is a professional basketball player...
Eminem born Marshall Mathers III is a highly influential American...
Michael Jordan also known as MJ is an American businessman...