With Ron DeSantis Distracted by the GOP Primary, Florida May Pass Fewer Terrible Bills This Legislative Session

Once upon a time, Ron DeSantis ruled Florida like a mini tyrant whose every legislative demand was basically met with a “Yes, Mr. DeSantis, we’re right on top of that, Mr. DeSantis.” Banning talk of gender identity and sexual orientation in schools? Done. A six-week abortion ban? Check. Scrapping DEI initiatives at public colleges? Say no more.

But, for a couple reasons, DeSantis will cast a much smaller shadow than in recent years when Florida’s new legislative session kicks off on Tuesday. For one thing, he’s spent much of his time recently outside the state; as The New York Times notes, “while in previous years he barnstormed nearly every corner of Florida to stump for his proposals, unveiling new ones nearly every day as the legislature prepared to convene, Mr. DeSantis spent the weeks leading to this session crisscrossing early voting states.” For another, his dimming presidential prospects have made legislators a lot less likely to ask “how high” when the governor tells them to jump.

Per the Times:

His absence will be a conspicuous change from the last few years, when Mr. DeSantis loomed large over the legislature, his every major wish granted by friendly lawmakers. The Republicans who control both chambers were eager to curry favor with the state’s political superstar, who seemed poised to lead their party’s presidential field. Instead, Mr. DeSantis’s presidential bid has struggled. His pitch to make America more like Florida has lost much of its fizz, with the frenzied culture wars that have gripped the state proving less appealing to a national audience. To date, the governor has lagged far behind former President Donald J. Trump in the polls.

Mr. DeSantis’s job approval among Floridians has dipped, polls show. He remains a powerful figure, able to destroy lawmakers’ dreams with his veto. But everyone in the Capitol knows that Mr. DeSantis is not as invincible as he once seemed. “If he were the front-runner in the presidential race, things would be very different,” said State Representative Fentrice Driskell, a Tampa Democrat and the House minority leader. “He’s finding out that all these culture wars that he fought for in Florida aren’t winning him votes.”

According to Politico, DeSantis’s focus on winning the GOP nomination has “left legislators frustrated” and unclear what his priorities are for the state. Others claim he hasn‘t laid out a slate of policies he wants passed because he already achieved everything he wanted last year. As Politico notes, in Iowa this week, DeSantis said he had “overdelivered” on his promises to Floridians. Randy Fine, a state representative from Brevard County, told the Times, “It’s going to be a different session for sure. He got everything passed.”

Of course, if a less engaged, less feared, less Florida-focused DeSantis means fewer laws dictating when the people of Florida can access reproductive care, what they can talk about in the classroom, or if they can walk around town without worrying about the number of people carrying a gun who were not required to pass a safety course and a background check, that is probably a good thing.