Factbox: Florida's DeSantis makes identify as conservative tradition warrior – Reuters

WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis despatched two planeloads of migrants to the luxury trip island of Martha’s Winery this week, to protest the Biden administration’s immigration insurance policies. read more

It is the most recent provocation by DeSantis, a Republican who’s looking for re-election as governor in November and is taken into account a possible 2024 presidential candidate.

POLITICAL RISE

DeSantis, 44, was elected Florida’s governor in 2018 after President Donald Trump endorsed the then-congressman over a extra established Republican candidate. His nationwide profile grew in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he resisted masks and vaccine mandates and argued for the opening of colleges.

He has ruled Florida with a brash and heavy hand, blasting critics, pushing his priorities via the legislature and punishing his enemies. He not too long ago faraway from workplace an elected Democratic prosecutor in Tampa for what DeSantis known as an unwillingness to implement abortion restrictions.

IMMIGRATION

DeSantis has taken an aggressive method to unlawful immigration although Florida doesn’t share a border with one other nation. He sued Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration over its immigration insurance policies and sought to ban so-called “sanctuary cities” – locations that refuse to cooperate with immigration authorities – from being established within the state.

“Individuals are questioning, ‘Why are you doing this?,’” DeSantis mentioned earlier this yr. “Individuals will say, ‘Let Texas or Arizona fear about that.’ Let me let you know, folks making an attempt to return in illegally try to get to Florida.”

CULTURE WARRIOR

DeSantis has been the get together’s main determine in combating “tradition wars,” notably with regard to training. He championed the “Don’t Say Homosexual” legislation that prohibits Florida lecturers from discussing sexual orientation with younger college students, sparking a conflict with Disney, a big employer within the state.

He has backed restrictions on what lecturers can train about U.S. historical past and race relations, arguing that public faculties “indoctrinate” college students with liberal values. He additionally has seized management of the state Board of Schooling and supported conservative faculty board candidates in native races.

PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS

As his prominence throughout the Republican Occasion has risen, so has discuss DeSantis working for president in 2024. The most important impediment in his path is Trump himself, who is anticipated to hunt one other time period in workplace.

DeSantis has been cagey about whether or not he would problem Trump, who remains to be the preferred determine within the get together. Meantime, DeSantis has proved to be a prolific fundraiser, having raised $172 million for his re-election marketing campaign from sources inside and out of doors of Florida – on tempo to set the file for fundraising in a gubernatorial race.

He has continued to construct nationwide recognition, taking time away from the state to stump for different Republican candidates forward of November’s midterm elections.

Reporting by James Oliphant
Modifying by Colleen Jenkins and Jonathan Oatis

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.