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Ron Desantis: polls, Net Worth, Weight, Bio, Leadership, Height
Ronald Dion DeSantis, born on September 14, 1978, is the incumbent and 46th governor of Florida since 2019, representing the Republican Party. Before his governorship, he served as the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 6th congressional district from 2013 to 2018.
DeSantis has authored two books, “Dreams From Our Founding Fathers” in 2011 and “The Courage to Be Free” in 2023.
This article will take a look into the life and biography of Ron Desantis, net worth, height, polls and other facts about him.
Full Name: Ronald Dion DeSantis
Known as: 46th Governor of Florida
Status: Incumbent governor (Came into power on January 8, 2019)
Party: Republican
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: September 14, 1978
Place of Birth: Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Spouse: Casey Black (m. 2009)
Height: 5ft, 9 inches
Weight: 70kg
Children: 3
Net Worth: $1.5 million
Early Years and Education
Ronald Dion DeSantis, born on September 14, 1978, in Jacksonville, Florida, is the son of Karen DeSantis and Ronald Daniel DeSantis. DeSantis’s mother’s family name,
Raised in Western Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio, DeSantis’s parents met at Youngstown State University and later moved to Jacksonville before settling in Dunedin, Florida. Tragically, his younger sister, Christina, passed away in 2015 at the age of 30.
DeSantis was part of the Dunedin National team that reached the 1991 Little League World Series. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School and Dunedin High School, graduating in 1997. Post-high school, he pursued a history degree at Yale University, where he excelled as captain of the varsity baseball team.
Graduating magna cum laude in 2001, DeSantis taught history and coached at Darlington School in Georgia before attending Harvard Law School, where he earned a Juris Doctor cum laude in 2005. At Harvard, he served as the business manager for the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy.
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Career
In 2004, while pursuing his law degree at Harvard, Ronald Dion DeSantis became a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, joining the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG). After completing Naval Justice School in 2005, he served as a prosecutor at the JAG Trial Service Office Command South East in Naval Station Mayport, Florida and earned a promotion from lieutenant, junior grade to lieutenant in 2006.
DeSantis’s military service took a significant turn in 2006 when he was assigned to Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO), participating in detainee-related duties at Guantanamo Bay. Records of his Navy service are redacted, citing privacy exceptions to the Freedom of Information Act.
In 2007, he moved to the Naval Special Warfare Command Group in Coronado, California, serving as a legal adviser to SEAL Team One during their deployment to Iraq as part of the troop surge.
Returning to the U.S. in April 2008, DeSantis joined the Naval Region Southeast Legal Service and concurrently served as a special assistant U.S. attorney in the Middle District of Florida. He fulfilled the role of trial defence counsel until his honourable discharge from active duty in February 2010, subsequently assuming a reserve commission as a lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the U.S. Navy Reserve.
Throughout his military career, DeSantis earned accolades, including the Bronze Star Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Iraq Campaign Medal. His Navy Reserve service concluded in February 2019, with the rank of lieutenant commander, shortly after his inauguration as the governor of Florida.
Following his naval service, DeSantis co-founded LSAT Freedom, a test-prep company, and worked as a litigator at the Miami-based law firm Holland & Knight before venturing into politics, winning a seat in Congress in 2012.
Leadership/Politics
U.S. House of Representatives
Ronald Dion DeSantis entered the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, securing victories in the 2012 Republican primary for Florida’s 6th congressional district and the subsequent general election against Democratic nominee Heather Beaven.
His re-elections followed in 2014 and 2016. In 2015, he announced his candidacy for the 2016 United States Senate election but withdrew when Senator Marco Rubio sought re-election.
During his House tenure, DeSantis actively aligned with conservative ideologies. He signed a “No Climate Tax Pledge” opposing tax hikes for addressing global warming, voted in favor of repealing the Affordable Care Act in 2013, and introduced a bill in 2014 requiring the Justice Department to report instances of law non-enforcement. Notably, he co-founded the Freedom Caucus in 2015, a coalition of congressional conservatives.
DeSantis consistently advocated for gun rights, earning an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association, and opposed Obama’s immigration policies. In 2016, he introduced the Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act, promoting state-specific accreditation systems and expanding educational opportunities.
His stance on social issues evolved; initially receiving a low rating on LGBT-related legislation in 2016, he later expressed a desire for a discrimination-free Florida. DeSantis supported term limits for Congress members, serving three terms before retiring in 2018 to run for Florida governor.
On fiscal matters, DeSantis prioritized reducing the federal deficit through spending cuts, and economic growth and endorsed policies like the FairTax and the REINS Act. He earned recognition from Citizens Against Government Waste as a “Taxpayer Superhero” in 2015.
DeSantis sponsored legislation addressing Social Security, transportation projects, and taxation. Notably, he declined his congressional pension and proposed eliminating pensions for members of Congress. In 2017, he voted for the Trump tax cuts.
Governorship
In January 2018, Ronald Dion DeSantis initiated his gubernatorial campaign to succeed term-limited Governor Rick Scott. He got the support by President Trump, DeSantis won the Republican primaries on August 28, 2018, defeating Adam Putnam.
His campaign focused on echoing Trump’s agenda, emphasizing support for concealed weapons permit holders to openly carry firearms, E-Verify mandates for businesses, a state-level ban on sanctuary city protections, and a commitment to environmental issues, particularly addressing polluted water from Lake Okeechobee.
DeSantis opposed Medicaid for able-bodied, childless adults, advocated for a supermajority vote on tax increases, and expressed support for medical cannabis while opposing recreational legalization.
During the general election against Democrat Andrew Gillum, DeSantis faced controversy for using the term “monkey this up” about Gillum’s agenda, sparking accusations of racism. Ultimately, DeSantis won the election, with Gillum initially conceding but later rescinding as the margin narrowed. After a recount, DeSantis was confirmed as the winner in November 2018.
In September 2021, DeSantis announced his candidacy for re-election in 2022, facing Democratic nominee Charlie Crist. The campaign featured heated debates and criticisms, with DeSantis securing a landslide victory in November 2022, obtaining 59.4% of the vote and winning traditionally Democratic counties like Miami-Dade and Palm Beach.
Since becoming governor on January 8, 2019, DeSantis has governed as a conservative, prioritizing legislative agendas and exerting influence on the Republican-dominated Florida Legislature. Notably, he posthumously pardoned the Groveland Four and suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel in response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shootings.
Ron Desantis polls
Gov Nikki Haley led Florida Gov. Ron Desantis in GOP primary polls that was conducted earlier this year. Below are major take-away from Ron Densantis and Nikki Haley polls as reported by FiveThirtyEight:
- Haley was polling at 11.4%, DeSantis at 11.3%, and Trump at 61.3%.
- The change occurs after Haley was ranked second, behind Trump, in the three most recent surveys that were used to calculate FiveThirtyEight’s polling average.
- The numbers were released less than two weeks before the Iowa primary, where according to the polls, Ron Desantis led Haley by two points and lags Trump by 32.
- Haley leads DeSantis by a decisive 18 points in New Hampshire, the second primary state, but behind Trump by the same margin.
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Personal Life
DeSantis and his wife, Casey Black, first crossed paths on the golf course at the University of North Florida. Casey, a former Golf Channel host and later a television journalist and news anchor at WJXT, became his life partner.
Their union took place on September 26, 2009, in a Catholic ceremony held at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Initially residing in Ponte Vedra Beach near St. Augustine, their home fell within the boundaries of the neighboring 4th congressional district.
Subsequently, they relocated to a condominium owned by Kent Stermon in Palm Coast, north of Daytona Beach, ensuring their residence remained within the 6th congressional district that DeSantis represented. The couple, proud parents of three children, has created a life together.
Ronald Dion Height and Weight
Ronald Dion is 5ft and 9 inches tall and his weight is 70kg.
Honours
Actively involved in veteran organizations, DeSantis is a member of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Recognized for his influence, he earned a spot on Time’s prestigious annual list, Time 100, in 2022.
Ron Dion Net worth
Financially, DeSantis experienced a notable increase in his net worth, estimated at around $1.5 million as of September 2023, a substantial rise from $300,000 in 2021. This financial growth was propelled by a $1.25 million book deal with HarperCollins in 2022, elevating him to millionaire status by the year’s end.