Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Ron DeSantis

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Ron DeSantis.

Ron DeSantis is an American politician, attorney, and former naval officer. He has served as the 46th governor of Florida since 2019. A Republican, DeSantis previously represented Florida's 6th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2018. He briefly ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 before withdrawing from the race.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1949: Groveland Four False Conviction

In 1949, the Groveland Four, a group of black men, were falsely convicted of rape, before DeSantis posthumously pardoned them on January 11, 2019.

January 11, 2019: Pardoning the Groveland Four and suspending Scott Israel

On January 11, 2019, DeSantis took significant actions during his first week in office. He posthumously pardoned the Groveland Four, a group of black men who were falsely convicted of rape in 1949. Additionally, he officially suspended Broward County sheriff Scott Israel, citing his response to the mass shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and appointed Gregory Tony as his replacement.

June 2019: DeSantis signs anti-"sanctuary city" bill into law

In June 2019, DeSantis signed an anti-"sanctuary city" bill into law, despite Florida having no sanctuary cities before the enactment. Immigration advocates deemed the bill politically motivated.

June 2020: DeSantis signs bill requiring government employers and contractors to use E-Verify

In June 2020, DeSantis signed a bill requiring government employers and contractors to use E-Verify for immigration enforcement. He had originally sought to require all employers to use it.

2020: Damage to Christopher Columbus statue in Miami

In 2020, downtown Miami's Christopher Columbus statue was damaged, which DeSantis cited as a reason for advocating for the Combating Public Disorder Act.

February 2, 2021: DeSantis Announces Support for Legislation Against Tech Censorship

On February 2, 2021, DeSantis announced his support for legislation aimed at preventing alleged political censorship by tech companies, specifically targeting the de-platforming of political candidates. Following social media networks removing Trump from their platforms, the legislation sought to hold tech companies accountable.

April 2021: DeSantis signs Combating Public Disorder Act into law

In April 2021, DeSantis signed into law the Combating Public Disorder Act, an anti-riot statute that also penalized damage to historic properties or memorials and forbade publishing personal identifying information online with intent to harm.

June 1, 2021: DeSantis signs Fairness in Women's Sports Act

On June 1, 2021, DeSantis signed the Fairness in Women's Sports Act (SB 1028), which bans transgender girls and women from participating in middle school, high school, and college women's sports competitions. The law took effect on July 1.

June 2021: Effort to ban critical race theory in schools

In June 2021, DeSantis initiated a push to ban the teaching of critical race theory in Florida public schools, a subject that was not previously part of the curriculum. DeSantis and other conservatives described critical race theory as "teaching kids to hate their country." The Florida Board of Education approved the ban on June 10.

December 15, 2021: Announcement of Stop WOKE Act

On December 15, 2021, DeSantis announced a new bill called 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: DeSantis halts cooperation with Biden administration on migrant resettlement

In 2021, DeSantis halted cooperation with the Biden administration's program to relocate and resettle migrants in Florida. He allocated $12 million for relocating migrants to other states.

February 2022: DeSantis voices support for Parental Rights in Education Act

In February 2022, DeSantis voiced his support for the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act (HB1557), also known as the "Don't Say Gay" law, which prohibits discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in school classrooms from kindergarten to grade 3.

March 2022: DeSantis signs Florida Parental Rights in Education Act into law

In March 2022, DeSantis signed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act into law, which prohibits discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in school classrooms from kindergarten to grade 3. The law took effect on July 1, 2022.

April 14, 2022: Signing of 15-week abortion ban

On April 14, 2022, DeSantis signed into law a bill that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, which was stricter than the previous limit of 24 weeks. The law includes exceptions for abortions beyond 15 weeks if they are necessary to avert "serious risk" to the pregnant woman's physical health or if there is a "fatal fetal abnormality" but makes no exceptions for rape, human trafficking, incest, or mental health.

April 2022: DeSantis signs bill eliminating Disney's special independent district act

In April 2022, DeSantis signed a bill eliminating Disney's special independent district act and replacing its Disney-appointed board of overseers, escalating the dispute between Disney and the state government.

July 1, 2022: Enforcement of abortion law blocked

The 15-week abortion ban law was expected to go into effect on July 1, 2022, but a state judge blocked its enforcement, ruling that it violated the right to privacy guaranteed by the Florida Constitution.

September 2022: DeSantis sends migrants to Martha's Vineyard

In September 2022, DeSantis arranged for 50 newly arrived asylum seekers to be flown from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, leading to a class-action suit against him.

2022: DeSantis signs bill creating election police unit

In 2022, DeSantis signed a bill creating an election police unit to investigate election fraud.

2022: Gaffe in Fox News Interview

In 2022, looking back at a Fox News interview after his primary win, DeSantis's use of the word "monkey" received widespread media attention, and was interpreted by some as a racist dog whistle alluding to the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Andrew Gillum, who is African-American. DeSantis denied the racism charge, his spokesperson said the comment was only about policy and to characterize it as anything else is absurd.

January 2023: Supreme Court of Florida to hear abortion law challenge

In January 2023, the Supreme Court of Florida agreed to hear a legal challenge to the 15-week abortion ban law.

March 2023: DeSantis considers further similar legislation for all grades

As of March 2023, DeSantis was considering further similar legislation for all grades, expanding upon the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act.

April 2023: DeSantis signs six-week abortion ban

In April 2023, DeSantis signed a six-week abortion ban with exceptions for rape, incest, or human trafficking requiring proof of the crime. The legislation will make providing an abortion a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, ban telemedicine for abortion, and limit medication abortion availability.

April 26, 2023: Disney files lawsuit against DeSantis

On April 26, 2023, Disney filed a lawsuit against DeSantis and others, accusing them of retaliating against protected speech.

January 31, 2024: Disney's lawsuit against DeSantis dismissed

On January 31, 2024, the lawsuit filed by Disney against DeSantis was dismissed, although Disney vowed to appeal the decision.

March 27, 2024: Disney settles pending state court lawsuits with DeSantis

On March 27, 2024, Disney settled its pending state court lawsuits with DeSantis. Per the agreement, Disney put the appeal of its federal lawsuit on hold while a new development agreement with Florida was negotiated. No alterations to Disney's appeal of the federal lawsuit were made.

April 1, 2024: Florida Supreme Court upholds 15-week abortion ban

On April 1, 2024, the Supreme Court of Florida upheld the 15-week abortion ban, which led to the six-week ban going into effect on May 1, 2024.

May 1, 2024: Six-week abortion ban goes into effect

On May 1, 2024, DeSantis's six-week abortion ban went into effect after the Supreme Court of Florida upheld the 15-week ban on April 1, 2024.

June 2024: DeSantis Vetoes Waterway Bacteria Warning Bill

In June 2024, DeSantis vetoed a bill passed by the State House that would have created a statewide process managed by the Department of Health to issue closures and send warnings if the bacteria in waterways reached unsafe levels.

September 2024: DeSantis defends election police unit's visits to voters

At a press event in September 2024, DeSantis defended the election police unit's visits to the homes of Florida voters who had signed an abortion rights ballot initiative.

2024: DeSantis signs bill restricting social media access for minors

In 2024, Desantis signed a law requiring social media platforms to prohibit individuals under 16 from creating accounts, drawing criticism from digital rights organizations.

May 20, 2025: Criminal investigation opened into allegations against DeSantis's former chief of staff

On May 20, 2025, State Attorney Jack Campbell opened a criminal investigation into allegations of money laundering and wire fraud surrounding the transfer of Medicaid settlement funds involving DeSantis's former chief of staff, James Uthmeier.

2025: Controversy over transfer of Medicaid settlement funds

During the 2025 legislative session, DeSantis and his former chief of staff, James Uthmeier, were involved in a controversy over the transfer of $10,000,000 from a Medicaid settlement to a political committee Uthmeier controlled, raising allegations of money laundering and wire fraud.