History of Ron DeSantis in Timeline

Ron DeSantis is an American politician and attorney currently serving as the 46th Governor of Florida since 2019. Before becoming governor, DeSantis served as a U.S. Representative for Florida's 6th congressional district from 2013 to 2018 and was an officer in the U.S. Navy. A Republican, he is known for his conservative policies and stances on issues like education, COVID-19 restrictions, and social matters. DeSantis 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

1913: Youngest to assume the office since 1913

On January 8, 2019, Ron DeSantis became governor of Florida, becoming the youngest person to assume the office since Park Trammell in 1913.

1947: Florida State Guard Inactive Since 1947

The Florida State Guard had been inactive since 1947, until DeSantis announced its reactivation on December 2, 2021.

1949: Pardon of the Groveland Four

On January 11, 2019, three days after taking office, Ron DeSantis posthumously pardoned the Groveland Four, a group of black men falsely convicted of rape in 1949.

September 14, 1978: Ron DeSantis Born

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

Others born on this day/year

1982: Largest victory margin since 1982

On November 8, 2022, Ron DeSantis won the election with 59.4 percent of the vote, marking the largest margin of victory in a Florida gubernatorial election since 1982.

1986: Won Palm Beach County

On November 8, 2022, Ron DeSantis won Palm Beach County, which had not voted Republican since 1986.

1991: Little League World Series

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

1997: Graduated High School

In 1997, DeSantis graduated from Dunedin High School.

2001: Graduated from Yale University

In 2001, DeSantis graduated from Yale University with a B.A., magna cum laude, and had the team's best batting average as a senior on the Yale's varsity baseball team.

2002: Won Miami-Dade County

On November 8, 2022, Ron DeSantis won Miami-Dade County, which had been considered a Democratic stronghold and had last voted Republican in 2002.

2004: Commissioned as Officer in U.S. Navy

In 2004, DeSantis was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy.

2004: Joined U.S. Navy

In 2004, Ron DeSantis joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from Yale and Harvard Law School.

2005: Completed Naval Justice School

In 2005, DeSantis completed Naval Justice School and reported to Naval Station Mayport as a prosecutor.

2005: Graduated from Harvard Law School

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

2006: Arrived at Joint Task Force Guantanamo

In 2006, DeSantis arrived at Joint Task Force Guantanamo, working with detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

2006: Promoted to Lieutenant

In 2006, DeSantis was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.

2007: Served as 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 advisor to SEAL Team One and deployed to Iraq in the fall of 2007 as part of the troop surge.

2007: Deployed to Iraq

In 2007, DeSantis was deployed to Iraq while serving in the U.S. Navy.

April 2008: Reassigned to Naval Region Southeast Legal Service

In April 2008, DeSantis was reassigned to the Naval Region Southeast Legal Service.

September 26, 2009: DeSantis Marries Casey Black

On September 26, 2009, DeSantis married Casey Black in a chapel at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The wedding ceremony was Catholic.

February 2010: Honorable Discharge from Active Duty

In February 2010, DeSantis received an honorable discharge from active duty and accepted a reserve commission.

2010: Honorable Discharge from Active Military Duty

In 2010, DeSantis received an honorable discharge from active military duty and served as a special assistant U.S. attorney.

2012: Founded LSAT Prep Company

In 2012, DeSantis founded LSAT Freedom, an LSAT test-prep company, with two law-school friends.

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, aligning himself with the Tea Party movement.

2012: First Elected to Congress

In 2012, DeSantis was first elected to the U.S. Congress.

2013: Elected as U.S. Representative

In 2013, DeSantis began his service as the U.S. representative from Florida's 6th congressional district.

2013: "No Climate Tax Pledge"

In 2013, DeSantis signed a "No Climate Tax Pledge" against any tax hikes to combat global warming, and voted in favor of H.R. 45.

2014: Introduced Bill Requiring Justice Department Reporting

In 2014, DeSantis introduced a bill that would have required the Justice Department to report to Congress when federal agencies refrained from enforcing laws.

2014: Introduced Let Seniors Work Act

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

2014: Criticized Venezuelan Government

In 2014, DeSantis supported the Venezuelan protests and criticized the government's response. He also called for IRS commissioner John Koskinen's resignation.

2014: Re-elected to Congress

In 2014, DeSantis was re-elected to the U.S. 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: Founding Member of Freedom Caucus

In 2015, DeSantis was a founding member of the Freedom Caucus.

2015: Critic of Obama's Immigration Policies

In 2015, DeSantis was critical of Obama's immigration policies, including DACA and DAPA, and co-sponsored Kate's Law.

2015: Named "Taxpayer Superhero"

In 2015, DeSantis was named a "Taxpayer Superhero" by Citizens Against Government Waste.

2015: Death of Sister

In 2015, DeSantis's younger sister, Christina, passed away at the age of 30 due to a pulmonary embolism.

2016: Introduced Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act

In 2016, DeSantis introduced the Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act to allow states to create their own accreditation systems and provide students with access to federal loan money for non-traditional education.

2016: Human Rights Campaign Rating

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

2016: Re-elected to Congress and U.S. Senate Run

In 2016, DeSantis was re-elected to Congress and briefly ran for U.S. Senate before withdrawing.

2016: Re-elected to the House

In 2016, DeSantis was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

2016: Withdrew from Senate Race

In 2016, DeSantis withdrew from the Senate race after Marco Rubio decided to run for reelection.

May 17, 2017: Mueller investigation probe

In May 17, 2017, order that initiated the Mueller investigation of President Trump "didn't identify a crime to be investigated" and was likely to start a fishing expedition.

June 2017: Congressional Baseball Shooting

In June 2017, DeSantis was present before the congressional baseball shooting.

2017: Voted for Trump Tax Cuts

In 2017, DeSantis voted for the Trump tax cuts.

January 5, 2018: DeSantis files to run for governor

On January 5, 2018, Ron DeSantis officially filed to run for the office of governor, seeking to succeed the term-limited Republican incumbent Rick Scott. This decision followed President Trump's earlier expression of support for DeSantis's potential candidacy.

August 28, 2018: DeSantis wins Republican primary

On August 28, 2018, Ron DeSantis secured victory in the Republican primary for governor, successfully defeating his primary opponent, Adam Putnam. This win marked a significant step forward in his campaign to become the governor of Florida.

November 2018: DeSantis expresses support for Voting Rights Restoration

In November 2018, Ron DeSantis voiced his support for the Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative after its successful passage. He committed to faithfully implement it once he assumed the governorship.

2018: Elected Governor of Florida

DeSantis was elected governor of Florida in 2018.

2018: Pledge to lower corporate income taxes

During his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, Ron DeSantis pledged to lower corporate income taxes to 5 percent or lower.

2018: Retirement to Run for Governor

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

2018: End of Term as U.S. Representative

In 2018, DeSantis's service as the U.S. representative from Florida's 6th congressional district concluded.

January 8, 2019: DeSantis becomes governor

On January 8, 2019, Ron DeSantis officially assumed the role of governor of Florida. At the age of 40, he became the youngest individual to hold the office since Park Trammell in 1913.

February 2019: End of Navy Reserve Service

In February 2019, DeSantis's Navy Reserve service ended with the rank of lieutenant commander, one month after becoming governor.

June 2019: DeSantis Signs Anti-"Sanctuary City" Bill into Law

In June 2019, DeSantis signed an anti-"sanctuary city" bill into law, although Florida had no sanctuary cities before its enactment, and immigration advocates viewed the bill as politically motivated.

June 2019: Signs $91.1 billion budget

In June 2019, Ron DeSantis signed a $91.1 billion budget passed by the legislature, which was the largest in state history at the time, while also cutting $131 million in appropriations.

June 2019: Measure to make it harder to launch successful ballot initiatives

In June 2019, Ron DeSantis signed a measure that would make it harder to launch successful ballot initiatives.

2019: Became Governor of Florida

In 2019, Ron DeSantis assumed the office of the 46th governor of Florida.

March 2020: Start of Mixed Reviews on DeSantis's Handling of COVID-19

Beginning in March 2020, scientists and media outlets initially gave mixed reviews of DeSantis's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 2020: DeSantis Signs Bill Requiring E-Verify

In June 2020, DeSantis signed a bill requiring government employers and contractors to use E-Verify, as Florida became the 12th state to adopt legislation requiring local governments to aid federal immigration-enforcement efforts.

December 2020: Extends unemployment waivers

In December 2020, Ron DeSantis directed the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to extend unemployment waivers until February 27, 2021.

2020: Damage to Christopher Columbus Statue

In 2020, Miami's Christopher Columbus statue was damaged, leading DeSantis to advocate for legislation penalizing damage to historic properties or memorials.

2020: DeSantis Seen as Potential 2024 Presidential Candidate

In 2020, media outlets saw DeSantis as a likely candidate for the 2024 presidential election, and notable people urged him to run.

2020: Democrats outvoted Republicans by mail

In February 2021, DeSantis announced his support for eliminating ballot drop boxes and limiting voting by mail. The changes to mail-in voting were notable given that Republicans had historically voted by mail more than Democrats, but Democrats outvoted Republicans by mail in 2020.

2020: Investigation into Michael Bloomberg

In June 2019, DeSantis instructed Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to investigate whether Michael Bloomberg had criminally offered incentives for felons to vote by assisting in a fundraising effort to pay off their financial obligations so they could vote in the 2020 presidential election in Florida. No wrongdoing was found.

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

On February 2, 2021, DeSantis announced support for legislation to hold tech companies accountable to prevent alleged political censorship, particularly in response to social media networks removing Trump from their platforms.

February 2021: Support for limiting voting by mail

In February 2021, Ron DeSantis announced his support for eliminating ballot drop boxes and limiting voting by mail by requiring that voters re-register every year to vote by mail and that signatures on mail-in ballots "match the most recent signature on file".

February 27, 2021: Unemployment waivers extended

Ron DeSantis ordered the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to extend unemployment waivers until February 27, 2021.

April 2021: DeSantis Signs Combating Public Disorder Act

In April 2021, DeSantis signed into law the Combating Public Disorder Act, which forbade intimidation by mobs, penalized damage to historic properties or memorials, and forbade publishing personal identifying information online with intent to harm.

May 5, 2021: DeSantis Announces Bonus for First Responders

On May 5, 2021, DeSantis announced that all Florida police officers, firefighters, and paramedics would receive a $1,000 bonus.

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.

June 2021: Effort to ban 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." The Florida Board of Education approved the ban on June 10.

June 2021: Signs $101.5 billion budget

In June 2021, Ron DeSantis signed a $101.5 billion budget, vetoing $1.5 billion (including $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act money). The budget was more than $9 billion higher than Florida's current state spending plan.

September 14, 2021: Announces 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, in the fall, winter, and spring.

September 2021: DeSantis Introduces Signing Bonus for Police Officers

In September 2021, DeSantis introduced a $5,000 signing bonus for Florida police officers to attract out-of-state recruits, opposing efforts to defund the police and aiming to "fund the police".

September 2021: DeSantis announces reelection campaign

In September 2021, Ron DeSantis formally announced his intention to run for reelection as governor of Florida. This announcement set the stage for the upcoming gubernatorial race.

November 22, 2021: Gasoline tax waiver announcement

On November 22, 2021, Ron DeSantis announced a temporary waiver of Florida's gasoline tax in the next legislative session, which would occur in 2022, due to a significant increase in gasoline prices.

December 2, 2021: DeSantis Announces Reactivation of Florida State Guard

On December 2, 2021, 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: Announces 'Stop WOKE Act'

On December 15, 2021, Ron DeSantis announced 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. He framed the bill as combating "woke indoctrination."

2021: Florida's Age-Adjusted Death Rate Near Median Among States

As of 2021, Florida's age-adjusted COVID-19 death rate, which takes its disproportionately elderly population into account, was roughly near the median among states.

2021: Florida legislature passes DeSantis's top priorities

During its 2021 session, the Florida legislature passed Ron DeSantis's top priorities.

2021: DeSantis Halts Cooperation with Biden Administration's Migrant Program

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

2021: DeSantis' Net Worth at $300,000

In 2021, DeSantis' net worth was $300,000.

February 2022: DeSantis Voices Support for Parental Rights in Education Act

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

March 2022: DeSantis Signs "Don't Say Gay" Law

In March 2022, DeSantis signed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act (HB1557), also known as the "Don't Say Gay" law, into law.

April 14, 2022: Signs 15-week abortion ban

On April 14, 2022, Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The law includes exceptions for abortions beyond 15 weeks if 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 District

In April 2022, DeSantis signed a bill eliminating Disney's special independent district act and replacing its Disney-appointed board of overseers, following Disney's criticism of the Parental Rights in Education Act.

May 2022: Unemployment rate around two percent

Since May 2022, Florida's unemployment rate has sat around two percent, below the national average.

July 1, 2022: 15-week abortion ban expected to go into effect

On April 14, 2022, DeSantis signed a law that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy which 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.

August 18, 2022: Federal judge blocks enforcement of 'Stop WOKE Act'

On August 18, 2022, a federal judge blocked enforcement of the "Stop WOKE Act" as applied to businesses, ruling that it violated the First Amendment and was impermissibly vague. The judge later blocked enforcement of the act as applied to public universities for similar reasons.

September 2022: DeSantis Declares State of Emergency for Hurricane Ian

In September 2022, DeSantis declared a state of emergency for all of Florida as Hurricane Ian approached and asked for federal aid in advance of the storm.

September 2022: DeSantis Sends Migrants to Martha's Vineyard

In September 2022, DeSantis sent 50 newly arrived asylum seekers, mostly from Venezuela, from San Antonio, Texas, to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, leading to a class-action suit against him.

2022: Re-elected Governor of Florida

DeSantis was re-elected governor of Florida in 2022.

2022: Criticism of Crist's attendance record

During the campaign trail in 2022, Ron DeSantis criticized Charlie Crist's attendance record as a U.S. Representative, claiming Crist only showed up for work for 14 days during the year.

2022: DeSantis Becomes Millionaire

In 2022, DeSantis became a millionaire due to his $1.25 million book deal with HarperCollins.

2022: DeSantis Seen as Contender for Presidential Nomination

In 2022, DeSantis became seen as a contender for the presidential nomination, with writers predicting he could defeat Trump.

2022: DeSantis Signs Bill Creating Election Police Unit

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

2022: Re-elected as Governor

In 2022, DeSantis was re-elected as the Governor of Florida, defeating Charlie Crist by a significant margin.

2022: Corporate income tax increase

In 2022, Florida's corporate income taxes increased to 5.5 percent, after having been as low as 3.5 percent in 2021.

2022: Allegations Regarding Guantanamo Bay

In 2022, Mansur Ahmad Saad al-Dayfi alleged that DeSantis oversaw force-feeding of detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

2022: Controversy over "monkey" comment

In 2022, Ron DeSantis faced criticism for using the word "monkey" during a Fox News interview the day after his primary win. Some interpreted this as a racist dog whistle directed at Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum, who is African-American. DeSantis denied the accusation, but the incident was considered a "disastrous gaffe".

2022: Florida's COVID-19 Death Rate Placed 12th Lowest

In 2022, a study placed Florida's age-adjusted COVID-19 death rate at the nation's 12th lowest.

2022: Gasoline tax waiver

In November 22, 2021, Ron DeSantis announced that he would temporarily waive Florida's gasoline tax in the next legislative session, in 2022.

2022: Implementation of the new testing system

On September 14, 2021, DeSantis announced the replacement of the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) test with a new testing system, which was implemented in the 2022–23 school year.

January 2023: Supreme Court of Florida agrees to hear legal challenge to 15-week abortion ban

On April 14, 2022, DeSantis signed a law that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, and in January 2023, the Supreme Court of Florida agreed to hear a legal challenge to the law.

March 2023: DeSantis Considers Expanding "Don't Say Gay" Legislation

As of March 2023, DeSantis was considering further similar legislation for all grades, expanding the scope of the "Don't Say Gay" law.

March 22, 2023: COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Florida

From March 2020 through March 22, 2023, Florida had the 12th-highest rate of COVID-19 cases and deaths per 100,000 people among the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

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 up to 15 weeks, requiring proof of the crime. The law includes felony penalties for providing abortions, bans telemedicine for abortion, and limits medication abortion.

April 2023: Trump Leads DeSantis in National Polls

In April 2023, Trump led DeSantis in national polls for the Republican nomination, but DeSantis was performing better in battleground polling of the general election.

April 26, 2023: Disney Files Suit Against DeSantis

On April 26, 2023, Disney filed a lawsuit against DeSantis and others, accusing them of retaliating against protected speech after Disney called for the repeal of the Parental Rights in Education Act.

May 2023: DeSantis Announces Plans to Send Personnel to Texas Border

In May 2023, DeSantis announced plans to send over 1,000 personnel, including National Guard troops, to Texas to help stem illegal immigration across the southern border.

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.

September 2023: DeSantis' Net Worth Estimated at $1.5 Million

As of September 2023, DeSantis' net worth was estimated at $1.5 million.

2023: Record state budget surplus

In 2023, Florida had a record state budget surplus.

2023: Reestablishment of 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: Reverses position on Social Security

While running for president in 2023, Ron DeSantis reversed his previous position from when he was in Congress, and stated, "we’re not going to mess with Social Security."

January 2024: Withdrawal from Presidential Candidacy

In January 2024, DeSantis withdrew from the 2024 Republican presidential nomination race.

January 21, 2024: Withdrew Presidential Candidacy and Endorsed Trump

On January 21, 2024, DeSantis withdrew his candidacy for president and endorsed Donald Trump.

January 31, 2024: Disney's Lawsuit Against DeSantis Dismissed

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

March 27, 2024: Disney Settles State Court Lawsuits with DeSantis

On March 27, 2024, Disney settled its pending state court lawsuits with DeSantis, putting the appeal of its federal lawsuit on hold while a new development agreement with Florida was negotiated.

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, triggering the implementation of the six-week abortion ban.

May 1, 2024: Six-Week Abortion Ban Takes Effect

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

June 2024: DeSantis Vetoes Water Quality 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' Homes

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: Presidential campaign speculation

During a gubernatorial debate on October 23rd, Ron DeSantis was questioned by Charlie Crist about whether he would serve a full four-year term, amidst speculation of a potential presidential campaign in 2024. DeSantis responded by dismissing Crist as a "worn-out old donkey".

2024: DeSantis Signs Bill Restricting Social Media Access for Minors

In 2024, DeSantis signed a law requiring social media platforms to prohibit people under 16 years old from creating accounts, which was criticized by digital rights organizations.

2024: DeSantis Considered for Secretary of Defense

In 2024, due to the controversy that arose over Pete Hegseth's nomination as Secretary of Defense, Trump considered nominating DeSantis instead.

2024: Supporters chant "two more years"

On November 8, 2022, At Ron DeSantis's victory rally, supporters chanted "two more years" at various times rather than the common "four more years" to show support for DeSantis for president in 2024.

2024: Speculation Increases with Memoir Release

The release of DeSantis's memoir, The Courage to Be Free, and book tour, increased 2024 speculation.

February 24, 2025: Establishes 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.

2025: Allegation of misuse of settlement funds

In 2025, Centene, Florida's largest Medicaid contractor, accused Ron DeSantis of funneling an estimated $10 million of a recent settlement between the state and the contractor to the Hope Florida Foundation, a foundation created by his wife, Casey. Allegedly, this money was inappropriately used to fund a campaign against a ballot measure that would have legalized recreational marijuana in Florida rather than being returned to state and federal coffers as intended.