Ron DeSantis

46th Governor of the great state of Florida.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

The Illinois Railsplitter stands as one of America's greatest presidents. 

While his life was cut short by an assassin's bullet, the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln has endured.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

With America’s 250th anniversary just a few days away, I was proud to unveil a new statue of President Abraham Lincoln—the latest in our series honoring great Americans across Florida. His statue will stand here in The Villages as a symbol of dedication to the country and the sacrifice required to preserve this nation.

President Lincoln was guided by the principles contained in the Declaration of Independence as he fought the Dred Scott decision and judicial supremacy, advocated for free labor, led the effort to abolish slavery, and worked to preserve the Union.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Governor DeSantis Unveils Statue of Abraham Lincoln in The Villages https://t.co/O69cx1CQob

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Over the last seven and a half years, Florida has set the national standard for conservative governance, while breaking record after record in economic strength, education, and environmental stewardship. We’ve delivered billions in tax relief to families while making historic investments in the priorities that matter most to Floridians.

The FY 2026-2027 Budget I signed today reflects the core priorities I laid out from the beginning. This budget protects taxpayers’ interests, cuts spending for the fourth year in a row, and makes meaningful investments to build on Florida’s successes in education, public safety, environmental conservation, infrastructure, cancer research, and more.

I’m proud that Florida continues to serve as the prime example of fiscal responsibility and government that works for the people of our state.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

The Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget marks the fourth straight year Florida has reduced its budget. We have large reserves and a full rainy day fund—more than triple the size from when I took office. We’ve paid down historic debt instead of passing the burden to future generations.

The State of Florida has built a strong fiscal foundation because we manage taxpayers’ money responsibly. Florida’s per capita spending is one of the lowest in the nation. We have the fewest state employees per capita in the nation.

We’ve achieved high levels of fiscal responsibility while also reducing taxes and making historic investment in infrastructure, education and Everglades restoration. In short, it can be done!

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Governor DeSantis Signs Florida Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 https://t.co/cGxEyn0Afv

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Florida did not become the Education State by accident. We got here by setting high expectations, empowering parents, supporting teachers, and refusing to settle for the status quo.

For the first time ever, more than 60 percent of Florida students are now performing on or above grade level in both English language arts and mathematics. This success demonstrates that our education reforms, like progress monitoring, are delivering real results for our students.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

We have made historic investments in education—and Florida now leads the country in many measures of student success. Florida stayed focused on student achievement and enacted bold reforms to ensure all students can access high-quality education.

One of our reforms, established in 2023, is the statewide progress monitoring system. Unlike end-of-year high-stakes testing, progress monitoring provides teachers, students, and parents with actionable data at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year to drive continuous academic improvement.

This innovative approach is delivering results. Today in Polk County, I was proud to announce that our students broke records at the end of this latest school year. Compared to 2023, when we first implemented progress monitoring, the number of Florida students at or above grade level has grown by 12 percentage points in English and 9 percentage points in math.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

12 — Diners, Drive-ins & DeSantis

Not quite a dive, but Joe’s Stone Crab is a Florida icon.

Great to host @shaunvlog_ and the Tartan Army from Scotland!

Joe’s Stone Crab, Miami Beach, FL

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Governor DeSantis Highlights Success of Progress Monitoring in K-12 Education https://t.co/LtjZSkNBmv

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

During the Biden border crisis, Florida set the standard for states in protecting citizens from the harmful effects of illegal immigration. Florida has since become a model for states in helping the Trump Administration to apprehend, detain, and deport illegal aliens.

We launched Alligator Alcatraz shortly after President Trump took office, when our country was overloaded with illegal aliens due to the previous administration’s dereliction of duty.  President Trump swiftly delivered on his promise to secure the border. Now, after processing thousands of illegal immigrants for deportation—including many of the worst criminals—we have accomplished the mission that Alligator Alcatraz was designed for.

Florida is proud to serve as a force multiplier for the Trump Administration on illegal immigration enforcement. We will continue supporting apprehension, detention, and deportation operations alongside our federal partners.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Immigration enforcement has been a state priority since I’ve been governor.

We stood up Alligator Alcatraz to help address the failures of the Biden administration on immigration enforcement and bolster the Trump administration’s efforts to resume interior enforcement and removal operations.

Florida led the way in increasing much-needed detention capacity and working with our federal partners to streamline deportations, removing thousands of the most dangerous criminal aliens from our country.

Our detention operations support has led to nearly 30,000 additional deportations and Florida accounts for more than 40% of all state/local immigration arrests nationwide.

Alligator Alcatraz has fulfilled this mission. Detainees who are still awaiting deportation have been transferred to other federal facilities, and demobilization efforts are underway.

The Biden border crisis caused an emergency. When it comes to emergency management, Florida is second to none. The success of Alligator Alcatraz demonstrated our state’s leadership in launching critical infrastructure, surging resources, and managing complex operations.

Along with our partners in the Trump Administration, we will continue the mission to make our communities safer by deporting illegal aliens and ensuring that our nation’s immigration laws are enforced.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Governor DeSantis and Border Czar Tom Homan Highlight Florida’s Leadership in Immigration Enforcement https://t.co/lFRMD3HWlL

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Florida has reduced its budget for four straight years and has demonstrated fiscal responsibility and respect for taxpayers. 

Now, we are stepping in to protect taxpayers from taxes at the local level.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Today in Bradenton, I signed Senate Bill 4-F, which makes it harder for local governments to raise property tax burdens on Florida homeowners. This bill also allows a clear explanation on the Legislature’s property tax ballot initiative so that voters can make an informed decision in November, when Floridians will have the chance to vote for property tax relief and a pathway to elimination.

I also signed HB 1329, the Local Government Financial Transparency and Accountability Act. Under this law, counties and cities will be required to put their financial information online in a format that Floridians can easily review. This legislation also requires local officials to conduct a budget-cutting exercise to reduce the tentative budget by 10 percent—without compromising essential public services—before final budget adoption.

Both bills are important steps forward in our mission to deliver a more affordable state for homesteaded Florida residents.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Governor DeSantis Signs Bills to Prevent Property Tax Hikes and Improve Fiscal Accountability https://t.co/ntFzTo6UgR

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Today, I signed legislation to crack down on dangerous drugs, strengthen oversight of repeat offenders, disrupt criminal gangs, support law enforcement, and ensure that violent criminals face serious consequences.

Florida is the law and order state. Our commitment to holding criminals accountable and keeping our streets safe forms the foundation for our state’s continued success.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

We stand for law and order. Today in Winter Haven, I was proud to sign five bills to enhance public safety and support law enforcement: 

✔️ SB 432: Establishes trafficking penalties for xylazine, a dangerous drug commonly known as “tranq”, and enacts tougher penalties for criminals who market addictive substances to appeal to youth.

✔️ SB 1332: Strengthens Florida’s Career Offender Registration Act and gives law enforcement better tools to monitor serious repeat offenders.

✔️ HB 429: Modernizes Florida’s criminal gang statutes by expanding the criteria that can be used to establish gang involvement.

✔️ SB 156, the Officer Jason Raynor Act, honors a Daytona Beach police officer who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. This law strengthens protections for law enforcement officers and ensures that those who attack, injure, or kill officers face the toughest penalties available.

✔️ SB 436: Ensures that repeat violent offenders face more serious consequences. If a person has been convicted for resisting an officer with violence, a second battery offense can be elevated to a felony.

These bills reinforce our commitment to making Florida the most law enforcement-friendly state in the union—and the worst state in which to commit crimes.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Governor DeSantis Signs Bills to Support Law Enforcement and Public Safety https://t.co/geHxnYpoIi

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

In Florida, we work to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly and that public programs serve the people they are intended to serve. That means holding government accountable and rooting out fraud wherever it exists.

With the Medicaid integrity initiative I announced today, Florida will continue leading the way in protecting taxpayers and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse.