1:42 p.m. ET, January 9, 2024
DeSantis touts policy wins and vision to extend his mission beyond Florida in State of the State speech
From CNN's Steve Contorno
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gives his State of the State address during a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives in Tallahassee, Florida, on Tuesday, January 9.
Gary McCullough/AP
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign went unmentioned during his annual State of the State speech Tuesday, but his remarks from the Tallahassee state capitol appeared aimed at the
Iowa caucusgoers — who will soon decide his political fate as much as Floridians.
“We are in the midst of a great upheaval throughout the nation,” DeSantis began, before sharing a dark view of the current state of the country that was deeply critical of the Biden administration and Democratic-run cities like San Francisco, Chicago and Washington, DC.
He ended with a line that nodded to a mission that extended well beyond Florida’s boundaries.
“Together, we will keep Florida free and provide hope for a revival of the American spirit throughout these United States,” he said.
Just as he has in dozens of appearances in Iowa, DeSantis recounted at length his political victories in Florida. He was especially complimentary of the Republican-controlled legislature’s work in 2023 — which he called “monumental” — when lawmakers passed a slate of bills that have served as a platform for his presidential campaign.
“We have put forth a blueprint for America’s revival that has instilled hope into the hearts of millions that a new birth of freedom can emanate from this land once more,” he said.
At one point, DeSantis quickly ran through a list of more than a dozen conservative policy accomplishments — including new laws to ban Covid-related restrictions, expansion of gun rights and a ban on most abortions after six weeks into a pregnancy.
“Let’s see some other state match that list of achievements,” DeSantis said.
Homestretch to Iowa: The remarks from Tallahassee come six days before Iowa Republicans will caucus to pick a nominee for president.
For DeSantis, who has staked his political future on a strong showing in the Hawkeye State, the visit back to his state capitol marked a rare hiatus from the campaign trail after spending most of the second half of 2023 and early 2024 on the road.
With his immediate focus on the presidential race, DeSantis has offered few specifics about his future priorities in the state he still governs — a disconnect that was captured by the lack of a forward-looking agenda in his speech.
“My message is simple: stay the course,” DeSantis said. “The state of our state is strong. Let’s keep doing what works. Let’s continue to make Florida the envy of the nation.”
While DeSantis left his Iowa and New Hampshire travels out of his remarks Tuesday, Democrats in the state legislature seized on it to depict the Republican governor as out of touch with his residents.
DeSantis was scheduled to appear Tuesday night at a town hall hosted by Fox News from Des Moines. However, inclement weather has hammered both Iowa — which is facing blizzard conditions — and Northern Florida — facing storm threats significant enough for DeSantis to declare a state of emergency just before he delivered his address from the House chamber.
His campaign said travel plans have not yet changed. His office announced he would hold a news conference at the state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee Tuesday afternoon.