Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Executive Orders Are Fewer In 2023 Than In 2022

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued 20 executive orders from April 17-23. As of April 23, DeSantis has issued 85 executive orders in 2023 — 15 fewer than he

 did at this point a year ago. 

Three of the orders are below:

• Executive Order Number 23-81, where the governor extended the assignment of Katherine Fernandez Rundle as state attorney in the case involving Jorge Gonzalez in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida.
• Executive Order Number 23-76, where the governor assigned R.J. Larizza as state attorney for the case involving Jared Lewin in the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida.
• Executive Order Number 23-75, where the governor assigned Monique Worrell as state attorney for the case involving Paul David Brill in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida.

 

Governors use executive orders to manage executive branch operations. During the week of April 17-23, the nation’s governors issued 43 executive orders. DeSantis issued the most with 20. Governors in 40 states issued the fewest orders with zero. Democratic governors issued 5 of the 43 orders, while Republican governors issued 38.

DeSantis has served as governor since Jan. 8, 2019. He issued 272 executive orders in 2022 and 246 in 2021. Nationally, governors issued at least 1,558 executive orders in 2022. Governors have issued 515 executive orders in 2023. Republican governors issued 346, while Democratic governors issued 169. Florida is a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.

The most high profile executive order under DeSantis came as he suspended State Attorney Andrew Warren for allowing the abortions to proceed after the overturn of Roe vs. Wade.

“When you flagrantly violate your oath of office, when you make yourself above the law, you have violated your duty, you have neglected your duty, and you are displaying a lack of competence to be able to perform those duties,” DeSantis said while announcing the suspension.

Warren later criticized DeSantis for attacking Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over the criminal of former President Donald Trump’s arraignment on the hush money payments made to former porn star Stormy Daniels.

“In the realm of criminal justice, we have problems that we need to address. How do we reduce gun violence? How do we make our system more efficient and keep our neighborhoods safe? And rather than helping solve those problems,” Warren said of DeSantis and Trump “are attacking their political enemies with false narratives.”

Florida’s abortion law was enacted where the ban was instituted after 6 weeks signed by the Florida governor. It was approved by the GOP-led legislator.

DeSantis is expected to make his announcement for a run for President of the United States in the coming weeks as he enters the GOP primary against a field of candidates that include Trump.

“November’s election results represent a vindication of our joint efforts over these past four years. The results also vest in us the responsibility to lead and provide us the opportunity to shoot for the stars,” DeSantis said to lawmakers in his annual address to begin the legislative session this year. “Boldness be our friend in this endeavor. We have a lot we need to accomplish.”

Trump remains in the lead in the GOP primary as DeSantis is viewed to be the biggest challenger. The winner of the GOP nomination will face incumbent President Joe Biden in 2024.

Produced in association with Ballotpedia