Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis was included as one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” list released on Monday.
DeSantis was included among a wide array of leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and recently confirmed Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Time’s list of influential celebrities, politicians, activists, and other leaders is divided into six categories—artists, innovators, titans, leaders, icons, and pioneers.
“Despite relentless criticism, Governor Ron DeSantis kept schools open, ensured Florida’s economy remained open for business, and allowed individuals to determine their own risk tolerance,” former Florida Republican Gov. Jeb Bush wrote in his description of DeSantis.
NEW: @GovRonDeSantis named one of Time’s 100 most influential people of 2022.
Blurb written by former FL Gov Jeb Bush. pic.twitter.com/JkBu50vian
— Jay O'Brien (@jayobtv) May 23, 2022
“His approach works. It’s one that has allowed Florida to emerge from the pandemic as a national model of personal freedom, economic growth, environmental protection, and education excellence,” he added.
The description noted that DeSantis does not fit in with Washington’s elite, but his results have led to a surge of influence felt far beyond Florida’s borders.
“While the Beltway crowd may not like his style, it’s his record that will become his legacy,” the governor’s profile concluded.
Florida’s job rate more than doubled that of the nation while generating the largest budget surplus in the state’s history, according to Florida’s Voice. “Florida had 0.7% job growth while the U.S. at large had .3%. Florida is also now registering almost 45% of the nation’s market share for international tourism,” the outlet noted.
“Governor DeSantis announced Florida will have $20 billion in reserves, making it the largest budget surplus in the state’s history,” the report added.
The honor comes as DeSantis announced on Monday the launch of the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program to help Floridians in more than 50 critical professions purchase their first home.
The new initiative will be available to state law enforcement officers, firefighters, educators, healthcare professionals, childcare employees, and active military or veterans as part of the $100 million program.
“In Florida, we value the contributions of our police, firefighters, teachers, and nurses,” DeSantis said on Monday.
The new effort is one of many that has directly confronted issues arising during the Biden administration with state-level answers.
For example, after some Democrats pushed the defund the police movement, DeSantis led an effort to provide financial bonuses to law enforcement officers.
The governor has also become known for his efforts to increase education transparency, including a recent Parental Rights in Education bill that those on the Left inaccurately labeled the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The legislation bans instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten to third grade.
In addition to DeSantis, Ukraine’s Zelensky garnered a glowing profile from President Joe Biden.
The president wrote, “the people of Ukraine have a leader worthy of their bravery and resilience, as citizens across the country—shopkeepers and soldiers, tailors and truck drivers—fight for their homes and their freedom.”
“The nations of the free world, inspired by the example of President Zelensky, are more united, more determined, more purposeful than at any point in our recent memory,” Biden added.