Republican · Florida
Ron DeSantis
Florida's 46th governor, in office since Jan. 8, 2019.
In the records
- Amendment 3 (2026 homestead property tax): said he will vote for it and that it will likely pass, applauded the Legislature for putting it on the ballot, and called it a modest reduction in local government revenue. He also said the version on the ballot was not his proposal and that he would not lead the campaign for it. (News Service of Florida via WUSF, “DeSantis: Property tax measure that will be on the November ballot 'wasn't my proposal'”, June 30, 2026)
- License-plate readers: on Aug. 31, 2026, he ordered Flock cameras removed from the State Highway System, calling the technology "out of control" and saying he does not want Florida to become a surveillance state. A Florida Department of Transportation memo gave local agencies 30 days to remove license-plate readers from state highways and said the state would deny new permits and remove any left after the deadline. (WCTV, “Gov. DeSantis bans Flock cameras from state highways”, Aug. 31, 2026)
- He has said he was not involved in the settlement, called the $10 million a charitable "cherry on top" of what Centene owed, and calls the matter a "hoax." The grand jury report, as described, made no finding about him. (CBS News Miami, “Grand jury finds DeSantis administration "misappropriated" $10 million in taxpayer money to Hope Florida”, Aug. 26, 2026)
Offices and candidacies
- Jan. 8, 2019 Took office as Florida's 46th governor. (Florida Department of State, “Florida Governors: Ronald Dion DeSantis”, Oct. 17, 2026)
- Jan. 16, 2025 Appointed Attorney General Ashley Moody to the U.S. Senate. (Central Florida Public Media, “Ron DeSantis appoints State Attorney General Ashley Moody to Senate”, Jan. 16, 2025)
- Feb. 2025 Appointed his chief of staff, James Uthmeier, attorney general, and named AHCA Secretary Jason Weida chief of staff. (Health News Florida via WLRN, “Jason Weida is leaving post atop Florida's Medicaid agency to be DeSantis' chief of staff”, Feb. 6, 2025)
- Jan. 9, 2026 Appointed William Spicola, whose firm the governor's office had hired in the grand jury matter, to the Gaming Control Commission. (Florida Trident, “Court erases Hope Florida grand jury report after shutting out anyone who would defend it”, Oct. 8, 2026)
- Jan. 14, 2026 Appointed former Chief Deputy Attorney General John Guard to the Second District Court of Appeal. (Office of the Governor, “Governor Ron DeSantis Makes One Judicial Appointment (John Guard)”, Jan. 14, 2026)
- March 2, 2026 Appointed Lance Neff to the First District Court of Appeal; Neff later wrote the opinion expunging the grand jury report. (Office of the Governor, “Governor Ron DeSantis Makes One Judicial Appointment (Lance Neff)”, March 2, 2026)
- March 16, 2026 Appointed AHCA General Counsel Andrew Sheeran, who drafted the settlement's Hope Florida provision, a Leon County circuit judge. (Office of the Governor, “Judicial appointment (Andrew Sheeran)”, March 16, 2026)
- Sept. 2026 Appointed the Hope Florida Foundation's lawyer, Jeff Aaron, and Continental PLLC lawyer Lazaro Fields to the First District Court of Appeal's judicial nominating commission (reported). (Florida Trident via WGCU, “Governor's office paid a second law firm $111,000 as Hope Florida grand jury report was fought in secret”, Sept. 28, 2026)
In SignalData reporting
Appears inThe Hope Florida FileGovernor at the time of the 2024 Centene settlement; his statements on the Hope Florida payment.Appears inThe Amendment 3 FileSays he will vote yes on the 2026 property-tax amendment.Appears inLicense-plate readers, county by countyOrdered Flock cameras off state highways in August 2026.
Florida offices in state records
- Governor of Florida. Source