Ron DeSantis is a former Florida Congressional Representative who has recently been elected as Florida’s governor. DeSantis has made it a mission to upend how campaigns are funded in the state, by introducing a controversial piece of legislation known as the Abolition of Campaign Finance Reform.
DeSantis was recognized as a politically involved congressperson during his tenure, taking an interest in local and state policies. He first proposed his controversial piece of legislation in October 2018. It was intended to do away with the “status quo” of campaign finance, instead proposing a new system that would rely on private donor contributions. The idea was popular with many national Republicans, yet proved to be a controversial topic among state and local Republicans.
Those in favor of the proposal held that private donor contributions would create a more democratic and transparent process. Supporters argued that by allowing for direct donations, those who otherwise could not afford to donate to campaigns would be able to have a say in the process. Furthermore, it was argued that this would create a sense of accountability in the political system, as all donations would be publicly disclosed.
In stark contrast, those in opposition to the proposal held that it was detrimental to the foundations of campaign finance reform. Those against the proposal argued that private contributions to campaigns would create an even wider divide between the wealthy and the not-so-rich. Moreover, those in opposition stated that allowing for private donations would only allow the wealthy to have more of a say in the political process.
In the end, the proposal was defeated in the state legislature. Despite the defeat, the controversy surrounding the proposed legislation has been incredibly instructive. It has revealed the tenacity inherent in DeSantis’ political venture, and the division and discussion created by his Abolition of Campaign Finance Reform proposal has reshaped the discourse surrounding how campaigns should be funded.
