DeSantis sworn into second term, promises to make education and family issues priority 

After being sworn into his second term as governor of Florida on Tuesday, Ron DeSantis promised to make education and family issues a top priority for the Sunshine State. 

“Florida is leading the nation,” DeSantis said during his 16-minute speech. 

“We are No. 1 in these United States in net in-migration,” he said. “Florida is the No. 1 fastest growing state. We are No. 1 in new business formations. Florida is No. 1 in tourism. We are No. 1 in economic freedom. Florida is No. 1 in education freedom – and we rank No. 1 in parental involvement in education. Florida also ranks No. 1 in public higher education.”

“This is a record we can all be proud of. And we are far from done,” he added. 

Governor DeSantis' Second Inaugural Address https://t.co/l4zEBwlCvg

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 3, 2023

DeSantis said he plans to focus on education and “family-friendly” policies during his next four years in office, to defend children from people who want to “rob them of their innocence.”

DeSantis also warned “woke” people not to come to Florida. 

“We reject this woke ideology. We seek normalcy, not philosophical lunacy. We will not allow reality, facts, and truth to become optional,” DeSantis said, tapping into the sort of partisan rhetoric that has become his calling card. “We will never surrender to the woke mob. Florida is where woke goes to die.”

The Florida governor also took aim at the federal government, criticizing the administration's policies, including immigration, pandemic restrictions, and inflation. 

“Florida’s success has been made more difficult by the floundering federal establishment in Washington, D.C.,” DeSantis said. “The federal government has gone on an inflationary spending binge that has left our nation weaker and our citizens poorer. It has enacted pandemic restrictions and mandates — based more on ideology and politics than on sound science — and this has eroded freedom and stunted commerce.”

For the swearing-in at the Florida Historic Capitol building in Tallahassee, DeSantis was joined by his wife Casey DeSantis and their three children, Madison, Mason, and Mamie.