Can DeSantis run again for Florida governor in 2026?
There are dozens of candidates in the 2026 Florida gubernatorial race, but can DeSantis run again?
- In his final State of the Union address, Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized his administration’s policies on religious freedom and education.
- DeSantis touted his track record of eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in public higher education.
- The governor noted that Florida is ranked No. 1 for religious freedom by conservative Christian legal groups.
In his final State of the Union address, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis touted his administration’s policies, saying they increased religious freedom and gutted diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
For seven years, the DeSantis administration’s policies put Florida on the national stage in culture war battles and at the forefront of the parental rights movement. He called Florida a conservative leader in pushing for education reform nationally.
Some of these policies have faced scrutiny from free speech and expression experts, including critical race theory, diversity training, and DeSantis’ Stop WOKE Act, a controversial 2022 law that sparked a national debate about how race is discussed in public schools and higher education.
But education reform wasn’t DeSantis’ only major initiative. He also spent the summer touting Florida as a leader in religious freedom, citing laws allowing silence in schools and expanding school options to include religious private schools.
Below are key points from Mr. DeSantis’ State of the Union address, where he spoke about issues related to free speech and the right to religious and political expression.
DeSantis touts anti-DEI track record
The governor encouraged lawmakers to pass legislation that would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion funding in local governments. SB 1134, filed last week, would also repeal ordinances and regulations that promote DEI.
DeSantis also said Florida was the first state in the nation to abolish DEI in public higher education. In 2023, he signed a bill banning public universities from using funding for DEI programs, prompting a lawsuit by university professors expressing First Amendment concerns.
“We reject the ideological trends that have diminished the value of higher education,” he said on January 13. “We call on our universities to be committed to the search for truth, the respect for merit, and the preparation of students to be good citizens of this republic.”
DeSantis says Florida is a leader in religious freedom
In his remarks, the governor noted that Florida ranks second. Ranked No. 1 for religious freedom by First Liberty Institute, a nonprofit Christian conservative legal organization.
Some of the notable policies at the time included expanding school choice programs to allow students to attend schools that best met their needs, protecting the right of high school sports teams to pray before sports days, and establishing a statewide school chaplaincy program.
Republican lawmakers have introduced a resolution to amend the state constitution to protect students and faculty who express religious beliefs from discrimination in public schools.
Focus on fighting the culture wars
One of the focuses of the DeSantis administration is waging a culture war. In 2022, Florida garnered national attention for a bill that critics dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” to restrict classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity.
He attacks the use of critical race theory in schools, which prevents schools from teaching that racism is systemic in the nation’s system.
Additionally, he has signed anti-LGBTQ+ bills targeting drag shows and restricting the discussion of pronouns in schools, both of which have led to lawsuits.
He also banned the use of state funds for gender-affirming care and placed limits on adults seeking treatment for transgender people. “We defeated attempts to force boys into girls’ sports, inject gender ideology into elementary schools, and deny parents the right to dictate their children’s education and discipline,” DeSantis said.
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Florida. He can be reached at SMattat@gannett.com. About X: @stephanymatat.
