Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has made headlines in recent weeks for his proposals to move federal agencies away from Washington, D.C. and for his potential 2024 GOP presidential candidacy.[0] In an interview with the New York Post, DeSantis suggested that parceling out federal agencies to other parts of the country could reduce the negative effects of the accumulation of power in D.C.[1]
DeSantis has also been supported by a newly launched nonprofit group, which was registered as a 501(c)(4) issue advocacy organization. This type of nonprofit does not have to disclose its donors, but can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money advocating for the policies it supports.[2] The group, called “And to the Republic,” hosted three events in New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia where DeSantis spoke before law enforcement officers.[3]
The governor is also taking steps to raise his national visibility ahead of a likely presidential bid, launching his new book, “The Courage to be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival,” and hosting a three-day donor retreat at the Four Seasons Palm Beach.
DeSantis will face off against other potential GOP presidential contenders, including former Vice President Mike Pence and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.[3] He has been derided by former President Donald Trump as “disloyal,” “Meatball Ron,” and “Ron DeSanctimonious,” but DeSantis brushed the insults aside, saying he doesn’t spend his time “trying to smear other Republicans.”[2]
House and Senate leaders expressed the goal of the upcoming legislative session is to get DeSantis’ priorities “across the finish line,” such as limiting lawsuits, expanding school choice, and preventing “woke” investing.[4] Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and House Speaker Paul Renner described “unprecedented cooperation” between the governor and leaders of the Republican-dominated Legislature.[5] They spoke at the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Legislative Fly-in” at the Augustus B. Turnbull III Conference Center at Florida State University.[4]
0. “Ron DeSantis wants to move federal offices OUT of D.C.” Daily Mail, 20 Feb. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11772197/Ron-DeSantis-wants-federal-offices-D-C.html
1. “Rick Scott seconds Ron DeSantis proposal to move federal agencies from Washington” Florida Politics, 20 Feb. 2023, https://floridapolitics.com/archives/589499-rick-scott-seconds-ron-desantis-proposal-to-move-federal-agencies-from-washington/
2. “A new nonprofit group is helping DeSantis go national” Yahoo News, 21 Feb. 2023, https://news.yahoo.com/nonprofit-group-helping-desantis-national-020659004.html
3. “New Nonprofit Group Helps DeSantis Improve National Standing” Newsmax, 21 Feb. 2023, https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/nonprofit-and-to-the-republic-desantis/2023/02/21/id/1109530/
4. “Florida legislative leaders look to get ‘across finish line’” WCJB, 22 Feb. 2023, https://www.wcjb.com/2023/02/22/florida-legislative-leaders-look-get-across-finish-line
5. “Florida lawmakers vow to push DeSantis agenda ‘across finish line'” Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2023, https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-florida-legislature-desantis-finish-line-20230222-rbnpmhaalrbdtas4jgpmuikkou-story.html
