Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ Security Costs Soar 70% Amid Presidential Aspirations
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has seen a significant increase in his security costs as he continues his pursuit of the Republican presidential nomination. According to a report released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), over $8 million was spent on protecting the governor, his family, and visiting officials from July 2022 to June 2023. This marks a 70% surge from the previous year’s reported figure of $4.8 million.
The total cost of protection provided by the FDLE, which includes safeguarding Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis, their family, the governor’s mansion, and visiting dignitaries, amounted to $9.9 million, up from $6.1 million in the previous year. It is important to note that Florida law mandates the department of law enforcement to provide security for the governor and his immediate family, regardless of their location.
Jeremy Redfern, DeSantis’ press secretary, explained that the governor’s increased prominence has necessitated enhanced security measures. Redfern stated, His record as the most effective conservative governor in American history has also earned him an elevated threat profile, and FDLE has increased the number of protective agents to ensure the governor and his family remain safe.
DeSantis has been actively traveling since announcing his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination. Despite concerns raised about his ability to gain support and his stagnant polling numbers, he remains confident in his campaign’s central message that he is best suited to defeat President Joe Biden in the upcoming election.
The aforementioned report, released on August 15, encompasses just over a month of campaign activities following DeSantis’ declaration of candidacy on May 24. During this time, he visited several key states, including Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nevada, and Texas. Additionally, DeSantis and his team were involved in a car accident in Tennessee, with a Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent driving the governor’s vehicle. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Prior to officially launching his campaign, DeSantis traveled to various locations, including Israel, New York, and California. However, specific breakdowns of the costs incurred during these trips were not provided in the report presented to the governor, his cabinet, and the legislature. It simply noted that salaries for DeSantis’ protection amounted to $5 million, while transportation and expenditures totaled $3 million.
The report also revealed a significant increase in costs related to visiting dignitaries, rising from $154,095 to $457,242. It is worth mentioning that not all of these dignitaries met with DeSantis. This figure encompasses expenses associated with visits from Vice President Kamala Harris, who has clashed with DeSantis over Florida’s adoption of new education standards that include instruction on the positive contributions of enslaved people.
While the report sheds light on the mounting security costs for Governor Ron DeSantis, it also reinforces his heightened profile in the political arena. As his campaign progresses, the governor remains focused on promoting his conservative agenda and positioning himself as the candidate best equipped to challenge President Joe Biden in the upcoming election.
