Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis waves before speaking at a rally in Orlando in 2020.
In pictures: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis waves before speaking at a rally in Orlando in 2020.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Updated 10:37 AM EST, Thu February 16, 2023

Ron DeSantis, Florida's governor since 2019, won a second term in November. And there might be more in his future as he weighs a potential bid for president in 2024.

DeSantis is the only Republican who consistently challenges former President Donald Trump in polls looking ahead to the 2024 presidential primary.

DeSantis, a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, started his career in the US Navy before moving into politics. He was elected to Congress in 2012 and served in the US House of Representatives until 2018.

A young DeSantis plays Little League Baseball in 1991. DeSantis was born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1978, and he lived much of his childhood in Dunedin, Florida.
A young DeSantis plays Little League Baseball in 1991. DeSantis was born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1978, and he lived much of his childhood in Dunedin, Florida.
Windsor, V. Jane/St. Petersburg Times/Zuma Press
DeSantis' yearbook photo from Dunedin High School in Florida. He would go on to Yale University, where he played on the baseball team.
DeSantis' yearbook photo from Dunedin High School in Florida. He would go on to Yale University, where he played on the baseball team.
Dunedin High School
DeSantis joined the US Navy in 2004. This was his first official photo as a Navy ensign. He was assigned to the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps.
DeSantis joined the US Navy in 2004. This was his first official photo as a Navy ensign. He was assigned to the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps.
US Navy
DeSantis is joined by his wife, Casey, as House Speaker John Boehner swears him into Congress in 2013. DeSantis represented Florida's 6th District until 2018.
DeSantis is joined by his wife, Casey, as House Speaker John Boehner swears him into Congress in 2013. DeSantis represented Florida's 6th District until 2018.
Charles Dharapak/AP
DeSantis participates in a House committee meeting in 2013.
DeSantis participates in a House committee meeting in 2013.
Bill Clark/AP
DeSantis, right, prepares for a 2013 news conference to oppose the Marketplace Fairness Act, also called the internet tax, which would require online retailers to collect a sales tax at the time of a purchase.
DeSantis, right, prepares for a 2013 news conference to oppose the Marketplace Fairness Act, also called the internet tax, which would require online retailers to collect a sales tax at the time of a purchase.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images
DeSantis is interviewed by a TV news crew outside of the House chamber as Congress prepared to vote on defunding President Obama's executive actions on immigration in 2015.
DeSantis is interviewed by a TV news crew outside of the House chamber as Congress prepared to vote on defunding President Obama's executive actions on immigration in 2015.
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images
US Rep. Trey Gowdy, left, tosses a golf ball to DeSantis during the First Tee Congressional Challenge golf tournament in 2015.
US Rep. Trey Gowdy, left, tosses a golf ball to DeSantis during the First Tee Congressional Challenge golf tournament in 2015.
Al Drago/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images
DeSantis addresses a crowd in Tampa, Florida, at a rally for President Donald Trump in 2018.
DeSantis addresses a crowd in Tampa, Florida, at a rally for President Donald Trump in 2018.
Zack Wittman/Bloomberg/Getty Images
DeSantis, second from right, takes an airboat tour of the Florida Everglades in 2018. He was running for governor at the time.
DeSantis, second from right, takes an airboat tour of the Florida Everglades in 2018. He was running for governor at the time.
Patrick Farrell/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
DeSantis shakes hands with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum after a CNN debate in 2018.
DeSantis shakes hands with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum after a CNN debate in 2018.
Chris O'Meara/Pool/Getty Images
DeSantis attends a campaign rally in Orlando in 2018.
DeSantis attends a campaign rally in Orlando in 2018.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
DeSantis and his wife, Casey, celebrate after he won the governor's race. DeSantis married Casey in 2010. She was a former newscaster in Jacksonville.
DeSantis and his wife, Casey, celebrate after he won the governor's race. DeSantis married Casey in 2010. She was a former newscaster in Jacksonville.
Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
Trump congratulates DeSantis on his win in 2018. DeSantis and other governors-elect were meeting with Trump at the White House.
Trump congratulates DeSantis on his win in 2018. DeSantis and other governors-elect were meeting with Trump at the White House.
Chris Kleponis/Shutterstock
DeSantis kisses his wife after being sworn in as governor in 2019.
DeSantis kisses his wife after being sworn in as governor in 2019.
Lynne Sladky/AP
DeSantis gives the state of the state address on the first day of the legislative session in 2019.
DeSantis gives the state of the state address on the first day of the legislative session in 2019.
Steve Cannon/AP
DeSantis and his wife hold up Orlando Magic jerseys before an NBA playoff game in 2019.
DeSantis and his wife hold up Orlando Magic jerseys before an NBA playoff game in 2019.
Fernando Medina/NBAE/NBAE/Getty Images
The DeSantises carry flowers to the site of the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in 2019. It was the three-year anniversary of the deadly shooting there.
The DeSantises carry flowers to the site of the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in 2019. It was the three-year anniversary of the deadly shooting there.
Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
DeSantis speaks while meeting with Trump and White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Deborah Birx in 2020. Trump met with DeSantis to discuss ways that Florida was planning to gradually re-open the state in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
DeSantis speaks while meeting with Trump and White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Deborah Birx in 2020. Trump met with DeSantis to discuss ways that Florida was planning to gradually re-open the state in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Doug Mills/The New York Times/Pool/Getty Images
DeSantis and Kimberly Guilfoyle, the finance chairwoman of Trump's campaign, applaud during a Trump rally in Sanford, Florida, in 2020.
DeSantis and Kimberly Guilfoyle, the finance chairwoman of Trump's campaign, applaud during a Trump rally in Sanford, Florida, in 2020.
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
DeSantis and his daughter Madison lean back in a chair during a meeting of the Florida presidential electors in Tallahassee, Florida, in 2020.
DeSantis and his daughter Madison lean back in a chair during a meeting of the Florida presidential electors in Tallahassee, Florida, in 2020.
Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat/USA Today Network
DeSantis pushes Vera Leip, 88, in her wheelchair after she received a Covid-19 vaccine in Pompano Beach, Florida, in 2020. Leip's retirement community was one of the first in the country to receive vaccinations.
DeSantis pushes Vera Leip, 88, in her wheelchair after she received a Covid-19 vaccine in Pompano Beach, Florida, in 2020. Leip's retirement community was one of the first in the country to receive vaccinations.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
DeSantis speaks at the opening of the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2021.
DeSantis speaks at the opening of the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2021.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
DeSantis helps hold a python as he kicks off the 2021 Python Challenge in Miami. The 10-day event gave prizes to participants who caught the most and the biggest pythons. The event began as a way for hunters to help control the population of the invasive Burmese python in the Florida Everglades.
DeSantis helps hold a python as he kicks off the 2021 Python Challenge in Miami. The 10-day event gave prizes to participants who caught the most and the biggest pythons. The event began as a way for hunters to help control the population of the invasive Burmese python in the Florida Everglades.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
The DeSantises visit a memorial for those missing after the partial collapse of a residential building in Surfside, Florida, in 2021.
The DeSantises visit a memorial for those missing after the partial collapse of a residential building in Surfside, Florida, in 2021.
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
DeSantis and his wife, Casey, have three children: from left, daughters Mamie and Madison and son Mason.
DeSantis and his wife, Casey, have three children: from left, daughters Mamie and Madison and son Mason.
Executive Office of the Governor
DeSantis <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/02/politics/ron-desantis-florida-student-masks/index.html" target="_blank">scolds high school students</a> for wearing masks at a 2022 news conference at the University of South Florida. "You do not have to wear those masks," he told them. "I mean, please take them off." DeSantis had been among the chief skeptics of the efficacy of mask-wearing as a means to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. In 2021, he signed an executive order barring schools from requiring students to wear masks.
DeSantis scolds high school students for wearing masks at a 2022 news conference at the University of South Florida. "You do not have to wear those masks," he told them. "I mean, please take them off." DeSantis had been among the chief skeptics of the efficacy of mask-wearing as a means to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. In 2021, he signed an executive order barring schools from requiring students to wear masks.
WFTS
DeSantis speaks during the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit in Tampa in 2022.
DeSantis speaks during the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit in Tampa in 2022.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
DeSantis and President Joe Biden survey areas hit by <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/26/weather/gallery/hurricane-ian/index.html" target="_blank">Hurricane Ian</a> in 2022.
DeSantis and President Joe Biden survey areas hit by Hurricane Ian in 2022.
Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux
DeSantis is joined by his wife, Casey, and their children at an election night party in Tampa in 2022. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/08/politics/ron-desantis-charlie-crist-florida-governor-results/index.html" target="_blank">DeSantis defeated Democratic challenger Charlie Crist to win a second term.</a>
DeSantis is joined by his wife, Casey, and their children at an election night party in Tampa in 2022. DeSantis defeated Democratic challenger Charlie Crist to win a second term.
Marco Bello/Reuters