History of Ron DeSantis in Timeline

Ron DeSantis is an American politician currently serving as the 46th Governor of Florida since 2019. A Republican, he previously served as a U.S. Representative for Florida's 6th congressional district from 2013 to 2018. Prior to his political career, DeSantis was an attorney and a naval officer. He sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 but withdrew from the race in January of that year.

Sections (6)

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

September 14, 1978: Ron DeSantis Born

On September 14, 1978, Ronald Dion DeSantis was born. He is an American politician, attorney, and former naval officer.

Others born on this day/year

1991: Little League World Series

DeSantis was a member of the Dunedin National team that made it to the 1991 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

1997: Graduated Dunedin High School

DeSantis graduated from Dunedin High School in 1997.

2001: Graduated from Yale and Best Batting Average

In 2001, DeSantis graduated from Yale with a B.A., magna cum laude. As a senior in 2001, he also had the team's best batting average at .336 as the captain of Yale's varsity baseball team.

2004: Joined U.S. Navy

In 2004, after graduating from Yale University and Harvard Law School, DeSantis joined the U.S. Navy and was promoted to lieutenant before serving as a legal advisor to SEAL Team One.

2004: Commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Navy

In 2004, during his second year at Harvard Law, DeSantis was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy and assigned to the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps.

2005: Completed Naval Justice School

DeSantis completed Naval Justice School in 2005. Later that year, he reported to the Judge Advocate General Trial Service Office Command South East at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, as a prosecutor.

2005: Graduated from Harvard Law School

In 2005, DeSantis graduated from Harvard Law School with a Juris Doctor, cum laude.

2006: Promoted to Lieutenant

In 2006, DeSantis was promoted from lieutenant, junior grade to lieutenant.

2006: Stationed at Joint Task Force Guantanamo

In 2006, DeSantis was stationed at Joint Task Force Guantanamo.

2007: Legal Advisor to SEAL Team One and Deployed to Iraq

In 2007, DeSantis reported to the Naval Special Warfare Command Group in Coronado, California, where he was assigned as a legal adviser to SEAL Team One. In the fall of 2007, he deployed to Iraq as part of the troop surge and served as legal adviser to Dane Thorleifson, the SEAL Commander of the Special Operations Task Force-West in Fallujah.

2007: Deployed to Iraq

In 2007, DeSantis was deployed to Iraq.

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.

September 26, 2009: Marriage to Casey Black

On September 26, 2009, Ron DeSantis married Casey Black, a former television host for the Golf Channel and television journalist and news anchor at WJXT. The wedding ceremony, which was Catholic, took place in a chapel at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

February 2010: Honorable Discharge from Active Duty

DeSantis received his honorable discharge from active duty in February 2010 and concurrently accepted a reserve commission as a lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the U.S. Navy Reserve.

2010: Honorable Discharge from Active Military Duty

In 2010, DeSantis received an honorable discharge from active military duty. Prior to this, the U.S. Attorney General appointed DeSantis to serve as a special assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Florida.

2012: Running for Congress

Before running for Congress in 2012, DeSantis worked as a litigator at the Miami-based law firm Holland & Knight and founded an LSAT test-prep company, LSAT Freedom.

2012: Elected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 2012, DeSantis ran for the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 6th congressional district and was elected after defeating six candidates in the Republican primary in August and then defeating Democratic nominee Heather Beaven in the November general election.

2012: 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. He also voted in favor of H.R. 45, which would have repealed the Affordable Care Act in 2013.

2014: Introduced Bill Requiring Justice Department Reports

DeSantis introduced a bill in 2014 that would have required the Justice Department to report to Congress whenever any federal agency refrained from enforcing laws.

2014: Introduced Let Seniors Work Act

In 2014, DeSantis introduced the Let Seniors Work Act, and also cosponsored a measure to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits.

2014: Supported Venezuelan Protests

In 2014, DeSantis supported the Venezuelan protests, criticizing the Venezuelan government's response. DeSantis also asked for IRS commissioner John Koskinen's resignation.

2014: Reelected to Congress

In 2014, DeSantis was reelected to Congress.

2014: Reelected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 2014, DeSantis was reelected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

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: Named a "Taxpayer Superhero"

Conservative think tank Citizens Against Government Waste named DeSantis a "Taxpayer Superhero" in 2015.

2015: Co-sponsored Kate's Law

In 2015, DeSantis co-sponsored Kate's Law, which would have increased penalties for aliens who unlawfully reenter the U.S. after being removed. DeSantis also encouraged Florida sheriffs to cooperate with the federal government on immigration-related issues.

2015: Founding Member of Freedom Caucus

In 2015, DeSantis was a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, a group of congressional conservatives and libertarians.

2015: Sister Christina Died

In 2015, DeSantis's younger sister, Christina, died at age 30 from a pulmonary embolism.

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. The legislation would have also given students access to federal loan money to put towards non-traditional educational opportunities, such as online learning courses, vocational schools, and apprenticeships in skilled trades.

2016: Received "0" Rating from Human Rights Campaign

In 2016, DeSantis received a "0" rating from the Human Rights Campaign on LGBT-related legislation.

2016: Reelected to Congress and withdrew from Senate Race

In 2016, DeSantis was reelected to Congress. He briefly ran for U.S. Senate in 2016 but withdrew when incumbent Senator Marco Rubio sought reelection.

2016: Reelected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 2016, DeSantis was reelected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

2016: Withdrew from Senate Race

In 2016, DeSantis withdrew from the Senate race after Rubio ended his presidential bid and ran for reelection to the Senate. DeSantis then ran for reelection to the House.

June 2017: Present Before Congressional Baseball Shooting

In June 2017, DeSantis was present before the congressional baseball shooting, and the perpetrator asked him whether the players were Republicans.

2017: Voted for Trump Tax Cuts

DeSantis voted for the 2017 Trump tax cuts.

2018: Won Republican Nomination and Gubernatorial Election

After winning the Republican nomination in the 2018 gubernatorial election, DeSantis defeated Tallahassee mayor and Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum by 0.4%.

2018: Retired from the House of Representatives

DeSantis retired from the House of Representatives in 2018 to run for governor of Florida.

2018: Elected Governor of Florida

DeSantis was elected governor of Florida in 2018.

February 2019: Navy Reserve Service Ended

DeSantis's Navy Reserve service ended in February 2019, a month after his gubernatorial inauguration, with the rank of lieutenant commander.

February 2, 2021: Support for legislation to hold tech companies accountable

On February 2, 2021, Ron DeSantis announced support for legislation aimed at holding tech companies accountable to prevent alleged political censorship following the removal of Donald Trump from social media platforms. The proposed legislation sought to prohibit tech companies from de-platforming political candidates. When Twitter suspended Rebekah Jones's account, DeSantis's office supported the decision and DeSantis expressed support for Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter.

2022: Reelected Governor of Florida

DeSantis was reelected governor of Florida in 2022.

2022: Allegations Regarding Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp

In 2022, Mansur Ahmad Saad al-Dayfi, who was held at Guantanamo, alleged that DeSantis oversaw force-feeding detainees and DeSantis acknowledged that he advised the commander of the base about the use of force feeding.

2022: Defeated Charlie Crist in Gubernatorial Election

In the 2022 gubernatorial election, DeSantis defeated former governor Charlie Crist by 19.4 percentage points.

May 24, 2023: Announced Candidacy for President

On May 24, 2023, DeSantis announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president of the United States.

January 2024: DeSantis Withdraws from Presidential Race

In January 2024, DeSantis withdrew his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

January 21, 2024: Withdrew Presidential Candidacy and Endorsed Trump

On January 21, 2024, DeSantis withdrew his presidential candidacy and endorsed Trump.

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

On April 1, 2024, the Supreme Court of Florida upheld the 15-week abortion ban, paving the way for the six-week ban to go into effect.

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

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

2024: Supporters Chant "Two More Years"

In 2024, at DeSantis's victory rally, supporters chanted "two more years" to show support for DeSantis for president in 2024, rather than the common "four more years".

2024: DeSantis presidential campaign speculation

In 2024, during a gubernatorial debate, Crist questioned DeSantis about his potential presidential campaign, and supporters at DeSantis's victory rally chanted "two more years" to show support for a presidential run.