Synopsis
The book Ron DeSantis: The Best United States Governor: Ron DeSantis is to Governors what Donald Trump is to Presidents—The Best! by Brian W. Kelly presents a highly laudatory account of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, portraying him as an exemplary leader whose governance mirrors the transformative impact of Donald Trump’s presidency. Published as an ebook, the book argues that DeSantis is not only the best current governor in the United States but potentially the greatest in the nation’s history. Kelly attributes this to DeSantis’s ability to deliver on campaign promises since taking office in January 2018, tackling issues critical to Floridians with decisive action and a forward-looking vision. The author draws parallels between DeSantis and Trump, emphasizing their shared knack for disrupting the political status quo, challenging establishment norms, and prioritizing the needs of their constituents over elite interests.
A central focus of the book is DeSantis’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which Kelly praises as a standout achievement. Unlike many other states, Florida under DeSantis remained largely open, avoiding the extensive business closures and economic downturns seen elsewhere. Kelly argues that this approach, combined with targeted measures to protect vulnerable populations like the elderly, resulted in a death rate comparable to the national average while preserving Florida’s economic vitality. The book highlights DeSantis’s skepticism of federal health mandates and his reliance on data-driven decisions, positioning him as a leader who resisted overreach and prioritized individual freedoms. This stance, according to Kelly, earned DeSantis widespread admiration among Floridians and conservatives nationwide, cementing his reputation as a “citadel of freedom” in a time of crisis.
Beyond the pandemic, the book chronicles DeSantis’s broader accomplishments across various policy domains, achieved in collaboration with the Florida Legislature and federal, state, and local partners. Kelly details successes in environmental protection, such as securing funding for Everglades restoration, and education reform, including the passage of the Parental Rights in Education Act, which limited discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in early-grade classrooms. The author also highlights DeSantis’s efforts in hurricane recovery, economic development, public safety, military support, and healthcare, including signing legislation to allow smokable medical marijuana. These achievements, Kelly argues, reflect DeSantis’s commitment to advancing Florida’s interests and elevating the state to new heights, much like Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda on a national scale.
Kelly portrays DeSantis as a unique and principled leader, driven by a deep sense of duty to his constituents. The book emphasizes his tireless work ethic, noting his daily gratitude for the opportunity to serve Floridians. It also underscores his political acumen, evidenced by his narrow victory in the 2018 gubernatorial election against Andrew Gillum and his landslide re-election in 2022 against Charlie Crist, which marked the largest margin of victory in a Florida governor’s race in four decades. While the book acknowledges DeSantis’s unsuccessful 2024 presidential bid, it frames this as a temporary setback, suggesting his strong conservative record and Trump-like appeal position him for future national leadership. Overall, Kelly’s narrative is unabashedly partisan, offering little critique of DeSantis and instead presenting him as a model governor whose policies and leadership style provide a blueprint for conservative governance.