Ron DeSantis Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a press conference. He is wearing a dark blue suit with a patterned blue tie and a white shirt. An American flag pin is on his lapel. He has short, dark brown hair and is gesturing with his right hand as he speaks into a microphone. In the blurred background, there's a golf cart and what appears to be a large, taxidermied animal. The image is credited to Dave Decker.

Florida Legislature approves DeSantis’ new redistricting map, giving Republicans significant boost

“You are destroying democracy with this vote, and the people of Florida deserve better,” House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said.

by Gray Rohrer and News Service of Florida April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

Florida lawmakers approved a major redrawing of the state’s 28 congressional districts Wednesday, a move that could help Republicans retain control of the U.S. House in the midterm elections. The outcome was anticipated but still held much drama. The U.S. Supreme Court decision on a redistricting case out of Louisiana, which Gov. Ron DeSantis cited […]

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at the Congressional Term Limits Retreat in Delray Beach, seated at a panel with state legislators to discuss a U.S. Constitutional amendment for congressional term limits.

‘This is clearly unconstitutional’: Florida Democrats decry DeSantis’ new congressional map

House and Senate committees approved the new map (HB 1D, SB 8D) ahead of a floor votes later in the week.

by Gray Rohrer, Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, Representative Jenna Persons-Mulika, and Speaker-Designate Sam Garrison address the press during the 2026 special legislative session in Tallahassee.

Florida Speaker kills DeSantis’ AI and vaccine bills on first day of special session

“There were no bills filed on these policies prior to the start of this special session [in the House],” Perez told his members minutes after opening House proceedings.

by Liv Caputo, Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix April 28, 2026April 28, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium in front of American flags

DeSantis orders Legislature to revisit vaccine mandates, as CDC confirms 134 confirmed measles cases

The Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday will consider SB 6D, offered by Jacksonville Republican Sen. Clay Yarborough.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix April 28, 2026April 28, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at the U.S. Caribbean Maritime and Ports Forum at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, discussing Florida's seaport investments and global commerce.

DeSantis’ new redistricting plan would leave Tampa Bay with zero Dem seats

Democratic lawmakers decried the new map as a blatant partisan power grab.

by Gray Rohrer and News Service of Florida April 27, 2026April 27, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium during the unveiling ceremony of a bronze George Washington statue in Chipley, Florida.

DeSantis signs bill allowing untrained volunteers to carry guns in Florida churches

The law is effective July 1, the start of the next fiscal year.

by News Service of Florida April 27, 2026April 27, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sits at a draped table in Jacksonville, signing SB 1134 and HB 1217 legislation into law, flanked by five officials and American and Florida state flags in the background.

DeSantis signs bills banning Florida cities and counties from supporting DEI programs, net zero carbon policies

“With DEI, the disfavored groups, number one obviously, would be white males, and I think they’ve been discriminated against,” DeSantis said Wednesday.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ doesn’t have to comply with federal environmental law, appeals court says

“Until Homeland Security officials decide to fund the facility, no final agency action occurs,” Pryor added.

by Liv Caputo and Florida Phoenix April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

Jay Collins insists he isn’t dropping out of Florida governor race, accuses Byron Donalds of selling ‘drugs’ to kids

The Donalds campaign brushed off Collins’ comments Monday.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 21, 2026April 21, 2026

UrbanLink branded Lilium Jet eVTOL aircraft flying over the Miami coastline, featuring its signature distributed electric propulsion system and sleek white fuselage

Florida Gov. DeSantis signs law allowing tax dollars to fund flying car infrastructure

“You could essentially be looking at something that was envisioned in ‘The Jetsons,’ or maybe ‘The Fifth Element.”

by News Service of Florida April 21, 2026April 21, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis (left) stands in a dark suit and red tie, looking on as Ken Babby (right) speaks from a wooden podium bearing the Great Seal of the State of Florida. The background consists of a blue step-and-repeat backdrop with "Orlando Health" and "Rays" logos, flanked by a large American flag.

Ron Desantis ‘flip-flop’ on pro sports tax subsidies divides Republicans

by William March and The Florida Trident April 17, 2026April 17, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis signing legislation to rename Tallahassee International Airport to Bobby Bowden Field at Tallahassee International Airport, joined by Ginger Bowden Madden and FSU representatives.

Florida Gov. DeSantis signs bill naming highway after Donald Trump

The bill also designates the Tallahassee airport as Bobby Bowden-Tallahassee International Airport.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix April 15, 2026April 15, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis standing at a podium with a sign that reads "School Choice Success: Florida is Leading the Nation." He is gesturing with his hands during a press conference, flanked by the United States flag and the Florida state flag.

Florida seeks alternative to high school AP courses with own version of college-level history classes

U.S. history is the second subject in the FACT program. Last year, the DOE initiated a statewide pilot for college algebra.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida April 14, 2026April 14, 2026

Wide-angle view of the Florida House of Representatives chamber in Tallahassee, featuring the iconic white geodesic domed ceiling, a large central chandelier, and rows of dark wooden desks arranged in a semi-circle. The front of the chamber displays digital voting boards, the American and Florida state flags, and portraits of past speakers along the walls.

‘This is illegal’: Florida Democrats blast coming congressional redistricting session

“It is against the Constitution to redraw maps in favor of a party.”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 10, 2026April 10, 2026

A diverse group of religious and community leaders speaking at a CAIR-Florida press conference in Tampa. A woman in an orange dress and hijab speaks at a podium while others hold signs reading "Faith is a Right, Not a Threat" and "Hate Stops Here" against a backdrop of CAIR logos

Advocates fear Florida’s domestic terrorist law could reach beyond Muslim groups

‘Today, bills like this target them. Tomorrow it could be me. But history tells us these measures never stop with just one people.’

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 8, 2026April 8, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium during a bill-signing ceremony in an aviation hangar on March 31, 2026. He is wearing a navy suit and red tie, gesturing with his hand. Behind him is a green and gold law enforcement helicopter.

DeSantis says birthright citizenship ‘kind of cheapens the process when you make it a tourist thing’

The Florida governor’s comments come as SCOTUS weighs whether to greenlight Trump’s citizenship ban for certain U.S.-born babies.

by Liv Caputo and Florida Phoenix April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis sits at a green-draped table in The Villages, holding up the signed HB 991 election bill. He is surrounded by Florida legislators and officials clapping in support. Four Florida flags and two U.S. flags stand in the background of the wood-paneled room.

Voting rights groups sue after DeSantis signs bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote

HB 991 will take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium during a press conference at the Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center.

‘I was not involved at all in that race’: DeSantis distances himself from GOP’s Hillsborough special election loss

“I was very clear from the beginning that I was not going to be involved in that, and that’s just kind of the way that the cookie crumbles.”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 31, 2026March 31, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis sitting at a desk and holding up signed legislative documents during a bill signing ceremony at a Florida Department of Law Enforcement center, surrounded by officials and a family wearing matching pink shirts.

DeSantis signs ‘Missy’s Law,’ calls for House impeachment of judge

Impeachments of judges are rare, but the threat of impeachment carries weight.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida March 31, 2026March 31, 2026

Air traffic control tower at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

DeSantis signs bill to spend $5.5 million to rename Florida airport after Trump

“Republican leaders decided to prioritize wasting five million of your taxpayer dollars on renaming an airport after the President.”

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida March 31, 2026March 31, 2026