DeSantis’ State of the State wasn’t what I expected | Opinion
For months, Gov. Ron DeSantis has been labeled a lame duck governor. After Tuesday’s State of the State address, it’s no longer debatable — reality has set in. DeSantis reminded Floridians of what he has done over the past eight years, like a high school football captain reliving the glory days. He didn’t chart a path forward, and that struck me as odd — especially for a governor whose worst kept secret is his presidential ambition.
Standing at the lectern in the Florida House for the eighth and final time as Florida’s 45th governor, DeSantis rehashed his bold agenda when he came into office in 2019. It was a greatest-hits playlist of his achievements — tax cuts, expanding school choice, increasing teachers’ salaries, Everglades restoration and reshaping higher education.
These are major achievements, but politics is often about, “What have you done lately?” Floridians already know that he has led the state with clarity, courage and conviction.
Two things were missing from Tuesday’s address: redistricting and DeSantis’ vision for the future. Despite recently calling a special session to redraw the congressional maps, he didn’t mention that topic once. Nor did he offer a roadmap for his final year. He mentioned a few agenda items, such as artificial intelligence, data centers and property taxes, but didn’t provide a clear vision for execution.
For a governor who declared a war on woke, his final State of the State speech seemed uncharacteristically weak compared to previous years.
DeSantis also tied America’s history to Florida’s efforts under his leadership, saying, “Ben Franklin told us we could have a republic, but only if we could keep it. We are doing our part here in Florida to keep it.”
As a fellow American history enthusiast, I appreciated the sentiment, but to me, it sounded less like the Liberty Bell and more like the final school bell of senior year. As governor, DeSantis has been a culture warrior and positioned himself as the future of conservatism. But his relatively flat demeanor made me wonder, what happened? Where are his bold proposals to cement his legacy?
The omission of redistricting was glaring. DeSantis has been clear that he wants the Legislature to redraw Florida’s congressional maps again. When he had the chance to make the case, he fell short. The absence of this agenda item suggests it’s either not a real priority or he lacks confidence to get it done. For Florida’s sake, I’m hoping it’s the latter. Leave the maps alone.
Often, governors want to finish strong with an eye on their place in history — and to provide a stepping stone for their next campaign.
But Tuesday’s address showed a governor who relishes in taking a victory lap — and may be suffering from a case of senioritis.
That’s a problem for Floridians. The Sunshine State deserves a governor who will govern until the final whistle, not someone who is watching the clock. Florida is facing serious challenges that require immediate attention, ranging from the rising cost of living to insurance reform. These issues don’t stop because the governor has termed out.
Republicans, myself included, are still wondering what DeSantis’ legacy will be. This is his chance — the last legislative session — to answer that question. That means working with the leaders in both the House and Senate, not snubbing House Speaker State Rep. Danny Perez, R-Miami, by not shaking his hand. Floridians don’t need another acrimonious session between the governor and lawmakers — they need tangible results.
The best Floridians can hope for is for DeSantis to find the same intensity he had when he first stepped up to the lectern in 2019. He needs to finish strong — not as the lame duck he came across as on Tuesday.
Mary Anna Mancuso is a member of the Miami Herald Editorial Board. Her email: mmancuso@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published January 15, 2026 at 6:00 AM.