Ron DeSantis: Running Florida or Running for President?

When late-season storm Hurricane Nicole followed its predecessor Ian along Florida’s northeastern coast and pummeled the shoreline in early November, Gov. Ron DeSantis wasted no time in springing into action.

Using his emergency powers, DeSantis had state workers spread dozens of dump trucks full of sand in a makeshift dune to allow roads breached by the Atlantic Ocean to reopen within 24 hours of nature having closed them to traffic.

Restoring normal services after a hurricane is the absolute minimum for someone running the Sunshine State, but the speed and efficiency with which DeSantis moved further burnished his reputation as a “can do” politician who does not allow bureaucratic norms to stand in the way of action – whether they emanate from Tallahassee or Washington.