Ron DeSantis in 2022 FL Governor's race
On Abortion:
Anti-choice on abortion; pro-choice on vaccinations
Asked to compare and contrast "The Florida Heartbeat Act" (HB 167), a House bill banning abortions after the fetus develops a heartbeat, with what a reporter called "freedom of choice during the pandemic," DeSantis fumbled and
offered an inconclusive answer. "Well, I think the difference is between the right to life is that another life is at stake. Whereas whether you've put something in your body or not, it doesn't affect other people," the Governor asserted.
Source: Florida Politics on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Jul 1, 2021
On Education:
Signed bills to protect religious freedom in Florida
[On school policy]: "Every family in our state should be able to send their children to school and know that they will be protected from harm and be able to practice their faith," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "I'm proud to sign these bills today to help
protect religious freedom in Florida and increase the safety and security of our Jewish communities. I will continue to make sure that in Florida we root out anti-Semitism, and that every day we show our support for Israel and our Jewish communities."
Source: Governor press release for 2022 Florida gubernatorial race
Jun 14, 2021
On Education:
Make sure people are not supporting critical race theory
HANNITY: No matter how many times you've answered about are you considering a run for the presidency in 2024, they still keep asking you. DESANTIS: Yeah, I'm not considering anything beyond doing my job. I'm going to be running for re-election next
year, and we're also working on a lot of things beyond the governor's race. We want to make sure people are not supporting critical race theory, making sure that, you know, parents have the ability to send their kid to school the way they want to.
Source: FOX News on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Sep 29, 2021
On Education:
Don't sow doubts among children about gender identity
DeSantis several times called instruction around gender identity and sexual orientation the "gender bread man," a reference to an educational tool."This is trying to sow doubt about kids about their gender identity.
It's trying to say that you know, they can be whatever they want to be. This is inappropriate for kindergarteners and first graders and second graders. Parents do not want this going on in their schools," he added.
Source: The Hill on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Mar 28, 2022
On Free Trade:
Expands program to engage new international markets
[On USMCA Mexico-Canada trade deal]: "International trade continues to support millions of jobs for Florida's export and import businesses," said Gov. Ron DeSantis. "The expansion of Enterprise Florida's Virtual Business Matchmaking program will provide
Florida businesses the opportunity to engage new international markets and build their global client base with a reimbursable grant. This program is another example of how Florida is safely helping companies get back to work."
Source: Florida Daily on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Jul 6, 2021
On Health Care:
Supports $5000 fines for businesses demanding vaccine proof
DeSantis defended his decision to start issuing $5,000 fines to businesses, schools and government agencies that require people to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination, saying he doesn't want to create two classes of citizens. DeSantis signed a bill
earlier this year that banned vaccine passports. "One, I'm vaccinated, I am offended that someone would make me show something just to go to a restaurant or just to live life," DeSantis said. "I don't want a biomedical security state."
Source: News4Jax on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Jul 1, 2021
On Homeland Security:
$3.4 million in state spending to support military
DeSantis announced that Florida will be giving $3.4 million to military spending thanks to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Enterprise Florida. DeSantis says this will increase Florida's reputation as a "military-friendly" state.
The money will go to improving military facilities and supporting economic development within military communities.
Source: TK on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Jul 1, 2021
On Immigration:
End catch and release, finish the border wall
Our idea is very simple. Our lawsuit says end catch and release. If they end catch and release and they reinstitute remain in Mexico and finish construction of the border wall, guess what?
Crisis will be ended. People will stop even coming because they know they're not going to be able to.
Source: FOX News on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Sep 29, 2021
On Immigration:
Pull over drivers suspected of transporting immigrants
During the Donald Trump years, DeSantis targeted the influx of Central Americans, and he's now doing likewise to Haitians under Joe Biden. He thinks he's punishing this other "foreign" Florida, but he's bad-mouthing and hurting all of us immigrants.
His newly issued mandate to law enforcement that they pull over drivers they suspect are transporting immigrants into the state is going to be tricky to carry out without violating Americans' constitutional rights.
Source: Miami Herald on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Jul 6, 2021
On Jobs:
Oversaw unemployment system with maximum $275/week benefit
The new online [unemployment application] system was part of a series of changes designed to limit benefits. The ultimate goal--which it delivered on--was to lower unemployment taxes paid by Florida businesses. A 2011 analysis done by the
Florida Legislature estimated that the changes pushed by Scott would save businesses more than $2.3 billion between 2011 and 2020.Most of those who do submit applications won't qualify for aid, and the benefits that are paid out are among the most
meager in the country--a maximum of $275 a week. "Everyone we talk to in that office when we ask them what happened tells us, 'the system was designed to fail,'" one
DeSantis adviser said. "That's not a problem when unemployment is 2.8 percent, but it's a problem now. And no system we have can handle 25,000 people a day."
Source: Politico blog on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Apr 3, 2020
On Principles & Values:
Compels schools to have moment of silence for prayer
DeSantis visited a Jewish temple to denounce anti-Semitism and stand with Israel, as the governor cloaked himself in religion while signing a bill into law that would require public schools in his state to set aside at least one minute of silence for
children to meditate or pray. [It] makes Florida one of at least 15 states that would compel schools to hold moments of silence at public schools. The state had already been among roughly 18 other states that gave schools the option to do so.
Source: Associated Press on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Jun 14, 2021
On Abortion:
FactCheck: Only 1.3% of abortions take place after 21 weeks
Much of the debate focused on the sharp divide in Florida when it comes to abortion rights with Crist promising to sign an executive order, if elected, to protect access for women. "I want to make sure we keep a woman's right to choose available to the
women of the state of Florida," Crist said."He supports dismemberment abortions where they literally tear the baby limb from limb. And he supports taxpayer-funded abortion all the way up to the moment of birth, and that is wrong," DeSantis said.
That claim is mostly false. The claim refers to the Women's Health Protection Act which passed along party lines after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Crist voted with the majority on the measure that, technically, would make abortion legal up to birth.
The Washington Post has pointed out this is more political than practical reality since just 5.5% of abortions take place after 15 weeks and 1.3% are performed at 21 weeks or later.
Source: WESH FactCheck on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Oct 25, 2022
On Government Reform:
State legislatures decide presidential electors
Appearing on Fox News two days after the 2020 election, DeSantis hinted at the notion that Republican legislators in key swing states could potentially override the presidential choices of state voters. DeSantis was one of the first prominent Republicans
to publicly float this idea. DeSantis said, "Especially if you're in those states that have Republican legislatures: call your state representatives and your state senators. Call Under Article II of the Constitution, presidential electors are done by the
legislatures, and the framework they create. And if there's departure from that, if they're not following law, if they're ignoring the law, then they can provide remedies as well. So I would exhaust every option to make sure we have a fair count."
DeSantis continued into early December 2020 to say he was encouraging Trump to "fight on." In mid-December 2020, after the Electoral College ratified Biden's victory, he said: "The College voted. What's going to happen is going to happen."
Source: CNN on 2020 Election Denial in 2022 Florida Governor race
Sep 9, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 14, 2023