Florida Governor Ron DeSantis officially entered the Republican presidential primary race on Wednesday after months of anticipation.
In the crowded 2024 race, he is now seen as the best Republican opponent for former President Donald Trump, but many people are just getting to know the 44-year-old governor.
DeSantis, a native of Florida with Midwesterner ancestry, was a star baseball player in his youth. Before becoming the captain of Yale University’s team, he competed in the 1991 Little League World Series for the Dunedin, Florida club.
He briefly taught high school before enrolling in Harvard Law School. He later joined the Navy as a Judge Advocate General officer, a job that sent him to Guantanamo Bay and Iraq.
What has Ron DeSantis done for Florida?
He supported legislation that gives Floridians who believe social media corporations have harmed them the opportunity to sue for vengeance. The legislation targets Big Tech companies for allegedly restricting Trump and other conservative views. The statute was halted by a federal judge.
How long has Ron DeSantis served Florida?
He has served Florida since 2009.