Ron ‘Freedom’ DeSantis is set to begin his second term as governor in Tallahassee
The stage was set on the eve of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ second inauguration on Jan. 3, 2023. Credit: Michael Moline
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Ron DeSantis will take the oath of the office of governor for a second term at noon Tuesday in a ceremony scheduled to be held on the steps of Florida’s Old Capitol, having won reelection in November by some 19 points over his Democratic challenger.
The Republican Party of Florida, which is handling the arrangements, wasn’t saying much about what the governor might tell the Floridians in attendance or observing the day’s festivities on TV. Many will watch for clues about whether DeSantis signals his intention to run for president next year.
The Florida Standard, a conservative news website citing RPOF sources, has reported that the theme of the day will be “The Free State of Florida,” underscoring a motto that DeSantis unveiled while campaigning against COVID-mitigation efforts that he deemed unduly restrictive over the past several years.
Tallahassee temporarily slapped the names of Gov. Ron DeSantis and other top elected officials on its street signs in preparation for inaugural festivities scheduled for Jan. 3, 2023. Credit: Michael Moline
Also planned is “A Toast to One Million Mamas” hosted by First Lady Casey DeSantis and an inaugural ball.
Upon entering office four years ago following a close election on the strength of an endorsement by Donald Trump, DeSantis said some things that might have given even progressives hope for a moderate administration, including pledges to protect water quality and other environmental programs.
“We resolve to leave Florida to God better than we found it,” he said.
Also this: “If we meet the challenges that lie before us; if we overcome the tribalism that has dominated our politics; if we set the interests of hard-working taxpayers as our true north, then I have no doubt that the state of Florida will cruise to bright new horizons.”
That said, Florida’s hard-working taxpayers continue to face spiraling rent costs, efforts to buy affordable homes and relief for homeowners’ property insurance premiums.
He also pledged to support education, including workplace education. Through his first term, he did announce expansions of vocational programs and led the Legislature to boost entering teacher salaries, though Florida’s overall average teacher salaries remain low.
Preaching to the choir
In practice, DeSantis spent much of his first term preaching to the GOP choir.
He spoke in 2019 of the need to “empower parents.” During his first term, that evolved into divisive restrictions on instruction regarding this country’s troubled racial history and LGBTQ rights (he has particularly targeted transgender people) as well as school districts’ authority to impose masking and other mitigation strategies against COVID-19.
And DeSantis was open about his plans for the state judiciary, into which he has inserted scores of doctrinaire Federalist Society judges, including on the Florida Supreme Court.
“To my fellow Floridians, I say to you: judicial activism ends, right here and right now,” he said at the time. That would depend on one’s definition of “judicial activism” — since taking the bench, the justices have overruled numerous precedents involving criminal law and the death penalty, and could soon overturn another precedent protecting access to abortion.
And DeSantis foreshadowed additional conservative priorities including support for law enforcement and a hard line on immigration that would come to include flying Venezuelan asylum seekers from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., ostensibly to prevent them from settling in Florida.
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