Ron DeSantis

Nationalist

Republican

Governor

Florida

Current Position: Governor of Florida

Running For: N/A

Policy Positions

For the 2017 Trump tax cuts; voted in favor
For replacing the federal income tax and IRS with a federal sales tax (FairTax); co-sponsored legislation to do so while in Congress

Against the Affordable Care Act; voted in favor of legislation to repeal it in 2013
Against expanding Medicaid; opposed allowing able-bodied, childless adults to receive Medicaid
Against mask mandates in schools during COVID-19 pandemic; banned school mask mandates, which was upheld by a federal court in 2021

Against climate change taxes; signed a 'No Climate Tax Pledge' against any tax hikes to fight global warming

Against abortion rights; signed 15-week abortion ban (no exceptions for rape, incest, human trafficking, or mental health), later signed a 6-week abortion ban with limited exceptions for rape/incest/trafficking requiring proof of crime, pledged to 'expand pro-life protections' after Dobbs decision, and encouraged passage of the Heartbeat Protection Act
Against LGBTQ rights legislation; received '0' rating from Human Rights Campaign, signed ban on transgender girls/women in school sports, signed Parental Rights in Education Act prohibiting classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in K-3 (later extended to grades 4-12)
Against teaching critical race theory in public schools; led effort to ban it in Florida public schools and signed the Stop WOKE Act allowing parents to sue school districts that teach it
For restricting social media companies from de-platforming political candidates; pushed legislation to prohibit tech companies from removing political candidates from their platforms
For raising the Social Security and Medicare eligibility age to 70 and privatizing Medicare while in Congress; reversed position on Social Security during 2023 presidential campaign, saying 'we're not going to mess with Social Security'
For banning children under 16 from creating social media accounts; signed legislation requiring platforms to prohibit accounts for users under 16

For congressional term limits; supports a constitutional amendment limiting U.S. representatives to three terms and senators to two terms
Against mail-in voting expansion and ballot drop boxes; supported eliminating ballot drop boxes and requiring voters to re-register annually to vote by mail
For requiring felons to pay outstanding fines before having voting rights restored, despite a ballot initiative that restored voting rights for felons generally

Against immigration; opposed DACA and DAPA, co-sponsored Kate's Law to increase penalties for illegal reentry, signed anti-sanctuary city legislation, mandated E-Verify for government employers and contractors, halted cooperation with Biden migrant resettlement program, transported asylum seekers to Martha's Vineyard, and sent National Guard troops to Texas to help stem illegal immigration

Against gun control; received repeated 'A' ratings from the NRA, stated firearms restrictions rarely affect criminals and only affect law-abiding citizens, and supported legislation allowing concealed weapons permit holders to carry firearms openly
Against cannabis legalization for recreational use; supported implementing a medical cannabis program while opposing recreational legalization
For maintaining and increasing law enforcement funding; opposes 'defund the police' movement, introduced $5,000 signing bonuses for out-of-state police recruits, provided $1,000 bonuses to all Florida police officers, firefighters, and paramedics, and signed anti-riot legislation