Ron DeSantis on Woke

Ron DeSantis has made a central theme of his political career the active opposition to what he labels as "woke ideology" and "woke indoctrination" across Florida's public sphere. His administration has enacted significant legislation, notably the Stop WOKE Act, which he stated aimed to give businesses and employees tools to stand up against discrimination and concepts related to Critical Race Theory in schools and workplaces. He framed this as prioritizing education over indoctrination, asserting that no one should be instructed to feel guilt or shame based on race or sex due to past injustices. He declared Florida the state where "woke goes to die" and views the agenda as a war on merit, achievement, and truth itself.

This political stance has involved using executive and legislative power to challenge concepts in K-20 education and corporate settings, which led to legal challenges regarding First Amendment rights, particularly in higher education settings where courts have halted enforcement of key parts of the Stop WOKE Act. The governor and his allies view these actions as necessary to maintain individual freedoms and ensure factual instruction, distinguishing his approach from advocating for specific political viewpoints while prohibiting others disfavored by lawmakers. This consistent focus on combating "woke" has defined much of his domestic agenda and his national political profile.