What can we expect from Gov. DeSantis?
Ron DeSantis is taking his Trump-style conservatism to Florida’s governor mansion, vowing to build on the momentum set by his Republican predecessor.
The 40-year-old Republican overcame Democratic challenger Andrew Gillum by a razor-thin margin with the help of the president’s endorsement. Now, he’ll face the prospect of governing in a bitterly divided political environment.
It’ll be a leadership test for DeSantis, a former congressman who has never held a position as big as Florida governor. His inauguration will be Jan. 8.
Expect more of the same under DeSantis’ watch. He has vowed to work closely with President Donald Trump and follow his predecessor Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s philosophy on the economy.
Here’s how DeSantis might govern on some of the key issues affecting South Florida.
Guns
New restrictions on guns likely will face an insurmountable climb.
DeSantis has said he would have vetoed legislation passed after the Feb. 14 Parkland school shooting that killed 17 people because he thought it ran afoul of gun owners’ rights.
The legislation — signed into law by Scott — included Florida’s first gun-control measures in two decades,
including a provision to raise the age to purchase a rifle from 18 to 21.
DeSantis received an “A” grade from the National Rifle Association.
Broward ‘accountability’
DeSantis has been critical of Broward Sheriff Scott Israel and schools Superintendent Robert Runcie. He’s questioned their leadership because of failures before and after the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Florida law allows the governor to suspend public officials “for malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, drunkenness, incompetence, permanent inability to perform official duties or commission of a felony.” The state Senate can vote to remove the official.
Scott mainly used that power to suspend officials accused of crimes. DeSantis has said if he’d been governor at the time he would have removed Israel. He said he didn’t think the governor had the authority to remove Runcie, but would like the School Board to do so.
Andrew Pollack, whose 18-year-old daughter Meadow was killed in the Parkland school shooting, tweeted that DeSantis’ victory will help bring change in Broward.
“DeSantis as OUR governor is a win for the Parkland 17 and Accountability.,” he wrote “Superintendent Runcie and Sheriff Israel should start spiffing up their resumes.”
A state panel investigating the shooting is required to report its findings by Jan. 1.
Environment
With the caveat that he is not a “left-wing tree hugger,” DeSantis touted his support for the environment at campaign events, saying he would work to reduce toxic algae discharges, prevent offshore oil drilling and restore the Everglades.
Asked at an event if he would implement any new environmental regulations, DeSantis dodged the question. Instead, he focused on how he would appoint qualified people to oversee the state’s water management district.
DeSantis said he’ll work to combat sea-level rise, but he has declined to say definitively that climate change is real and humans contribute to it.
Democrats tried to brand DeSantis an “election-year environmentalist.” The League of Conservation Voters gave DeSantis a mere 2 out of 100 rating for his environmental voting record when he was in Congress.
Supreme Court
The new governor will fill three vacancies on the Florida Supreme Court. During the campaign, DeSantis told supporters that he’d be able to alter the judiciary in Florida “for a generation” with his picks, promising to appoint “constitutionalists” to the court. He said his justices would be in the mold of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Economy
DeSantis says he’ll oppose tax increases as governor. In particular, he took aim at a proposal by Gillum to raise the corporate tax rate, saying it would kill jobs in Florida. Gillum wanted to use the estimated $1 billion in proceeds to fund education and raise starting teacher pay to $50,000 a year.
Gillum proposed raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour. DeSantis sidestepped a question during a CNN debate on what he thinks the minimum wage should be. He said he wants higher wages, but he thinks it is better accomplished by keeping taxes low.
Health care
Florida has shot down Medicaid expansion, which would have extended health insurance coverage to about 800,000 poor Floridians. That’s likely to continue with DeSantis, who is a critic of the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare.
Immigration
The federal government plays the biggest role in immigration laws, but DeSantis made the issue a centerpiece of his campaign.
He’ll be a friendly supporter of Trump’s immigration crackdown. DeSantis said he’s supportive of the idea of ending birthright citizenship, which grants citizenship to children born in the United States to non-citizen parents.
DeSantis has vowed to remove any state official who don’t fully cooperate with federal immigration laws.
Education
DeSantis says he’ll expand voucher programs that provided publicly funded scholarships for low- and moderate-income students to attend private schools.
He’s advocated reducing administrative costs in public schools and expanding vocational training.
Marijuana
DeSantis says he’ll fully implement the wishes of voters to allow the use of medical marijuana, but he said he has concerns about legalizing the drug for recreational use.
Hurricanes
A likely leadership test for DeSantis will be overseeing the state’s response to the next hurricane. DeSantis does not have extensive administrative experience leading a large government or business.
The governor plays a critical role in disaster response, making the call on whether to declare a state of emergency or call up the National Guard.
DeSantis represented the Daytona Beach area in Congress from 2013 until he resigned his seat in September to focus on his bid for governor.
Before being elected to Congress, DeSantis served in the U.S. Navy as an officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps and then as a federal prosecutor.