TALAHASSEE, Fla. — Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State address on Tuesday was expected to focus on Florida's future. However, Iowa is likely at the forefront of his mind.
The speech kicking off Florida's annual legislative session comes just a week before the first presidential caucuses in Iowa, and DeSantis has spent far more time in the Hawkeye State than the Sunshine State in recent weeks.
So it won't be a surprise if his sixth State of the State is as much a message to Iowa voters as it is a prediction of his continued vision for Florida.
“He will certainly say that the state of the state is strong. He needs to at least check that box, but I suspect he's going to use his State of the State address as his last-ditch effort to pitch to national donors and Iowa voters,” said House Democratic leader Fentrice Driskell of Delegates. “He would rather be on the ground in Iowa than in Florida.”
It was hardly a secret that DeSantis was plotting a presidential run when he gave his speech last year, and it was clear that his message was for the rest of the country, touting his conservative achievements and laying the groundwork for what he called the calls it the 'Florida Blueprint'. .”
But whether it's the blueprint, his difficulty connecting with voters or simply former President Donald Trump's unwavering base, DeSantis' support in Iowa has fallen by nearly half since he announced his candidacy last year.
Unlike previous years, when DeSantis spent months predicting his priorities ahead of the session, this year he has remained largely silent as he wooed voters in Iowa and New Hampshire. Many of his staff who helped him prepare for the 2023 State of the State address are now in Iowa.
“A lot of his team is on the campaign trail right now, so you're running it with a limited crew,” said former Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes. “He doesn't want a huge amount of fighting here to distract from the national image. Nothing I have seen come out of the Legislature this year is earth-shattering or groundbreaking.”
Although DeSantis will head straight back to Iowa after the session opens, he will still have a powerful hold on lawmakers. DeSantis has a reputation for vindictive use of his veto power on budget items, and the Republican-dominated Legislature has shown a willingness to do what he wants.
“The governor has trained these people quite a bit,” Brandes said. “Many of these House and Senate members are calling the governor's office to prepare their legislation at a volume that you haven't seen historically, at least not in the Senate.”
DeSantis' speech will be delivered in the state House chambers after lawmakers hold ceremonies to open the session. It will likely highlight his success in recent years and remind conservatives of his efforts to restrict abortion, ban instruction on LGBTQ+ topics in schools, keep immigrants living in the country illegally out of Florida, expand gun rights and push back to provide advice from the federal government. about COVID-19 restrictions and treatments.