‘You ain’t seen nothing yet:’ Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis touts state record and fuels 2024 speculation

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday boasted that his achievements have made Florida the nation’s high state as he laid out a set of coverage objectives fueling but extra hypothesis about his doable run for president in 2024.

“I can promise you this: You ain’t seen nothing but,” the Republican stated on the finish of his “State of the State” tackle to a joint session of the Florida legislature in Tallahassee. The occasion marks the beginning of Florida’s 2023 legislative session, which is able to final till Might 5.

DeSantis, who’s broadly seen as former President Donald Trump’s high rival for the Republican presidential nomination, is anticipated to carry off on saying his White Home plans till the top of the legislative session.

The Republican supermajorities within the state legislature will assist DeSantis cross an agenda that might span big range of conservative cultural points and will juice the hype surrounding his political future.

Republicans gained supermajorities in each chambers of the Florida state legislature following the November midterms, when Democrats woefully underperformed within the Sunshine State. Leaders of the state’s Home and Senate have each vowed to work hand-in-glove with DeSantis to “get his agenda throughout the end line.”

A few of these agenda gadgets might embrace approving measures to hold a hid gun in public with no allow — dubbed “Constitutional carry” by supporters, together with DeSantis — in addition to an growth of the extremely controversial legislation limiting dialogue of intercourse and gender in public faculties, derided as “Do not Say Homosexual” by critics.

DeSantis started his 30-minute speech by declaring, “Florida is primary,” and biking by means of a prolonged checklist of the state’s superlatives underneath his administration. He famous that Florida is at the moment the nation’s fastest-growing state and touted its financial development and excessive tourism rankings.

He additionally referenced his high-profile political fights over Covid security guidelines — when he pushed to elevate public health-related lockdown measures — and classroom instruction.

“We rank primary within the nation for training freedom. We rank primary within the nation for parental involvement in training,” DeSantis stated within the speech. “Now we have prohibited Covid shot mandates in faculties.”

These strikes, which prompted main clashes with Democrats and different critics, shortly propelled DeSantis to GOP superstardom, netting him a landslide reelection victory in November.

He additionally referred to as for “fortifying mother and father’ rights,” arguing, “our faculties should ship a superb training, not a political indoctrination.”

And he advocated for completely eliminating gross sales taxes on child provides in order that “having a toddler might be tax free,” whereas making an indirect reference to doable abortion coverage goals by stating, “We’re proud to be pro-life within the state of Florida.”

DeSantis’ framed Florida as a “blueprint” for America, suggesting that his state-level actions pose a recipe for nationwide success. DeSantis has spun that narrative in a brand new political memoir and the latest launch of a campaign-style video touting his achievements in Florida — two sturdy hints that he’s readying a White Home bid.

Polls constantly present Trump and DeSantis are by far the 2 best names among the many sprawling checklist of doable Republican contenders within the 2024 election.

If he runs for president, DeSantis will be part of an increasing major discipline that already contains Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Different names, together with former Vice President Mike Pence, are contemplating their very own presidential campaigns.

DeSantis is reportedly set to go to Iowa on Friday as a part of his e book tour. Trump is visiting the state three days later to present a speech on training coverage.