- February 4, 2025
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Governor-elect Ron DeSantis. Courtesy photo
First lady Casey DeSantis. Courtesy photo
Ron DeSantis stopped in Port Orange on his "Thank You Tour" on Saturday, Dec. 8. Courtesy photo
Governor-elect Ron DeSantis. Courtesy photo
"The only thing better than being elected the governor of Florida is being elected twice in two weeks," Governor-elect Ron DeSantis joked as he greeted his followers, Saturday, Dec. 8.
DeSantis and incoming first lady Casey DeSantis made a stop in Port Orange on their "Thank You Tour," where supporters and volunteers packed the Riverside Pavilion to welcome the DeSantises to Volusia County. Desantis spoke about the vote recounts and Broward Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes.
"I was not concerned about me," DeSantis said. "I was going to be fine, but it did tarnish unfairly the image of the state and that's just wrong, so there is no way I was going to let Brenda Snipes preside over another election."
Applause, cheers and chants of "Lock her up" echoed through the room as supporters agreed with DeSantis. Illegal immigration also struck a nerve and prompted chants of "USA, USA, USA."
Before DeSantis spoke, Volusia County Republican Executive Committee Chairman Tony Ledbetter began the afternoon with a few words, followed by Port Orange Vice Mayor Chase Tramont, who delivered a prayer of blessing over the governor-elect. Volusia County Councilwoman Deb Denys led the Pledge of Allegiance and sang a verse of "God Bless America" with the crowd before she introduced state Rep. Tom Leek, who introduced the incoming first lady.
Casey Desantis said it was appropriate to start the tour in Volusia County.
"It's because of you looking back to 2012 when he first decided to run that really made it possible for him now to be the governor of Florida," she said.
Ron DeSantis formerly represented U.S. Congressional District 6, which includes Volusia County.
She spoke of life in the governor's mansion with her young family, saying they will be the first family to have young children in the governor's mansion in 50 years. The DeSantises have two children under 2 years old.
"One of the things I really look forward to is sharing the experience with our family in Tallahassee with all of you," Casey DeSantis said. "We know you put us here to do good things, and we want you to be a part of it as much as possible."
She said preservation is the task at hand as the historic governor's mansion is preparing for life with tots.
"We are taking all of Florida's irreplaceable historical artifacts, and we are moving them up in the governor's mansion, like 4 feet, because my daughter who is 2 likes to take things off of shelves and throw them," Casey DeSantis said. "This beautiful wallpaper from the early 20th century — I'm thinking crayons, you know, that's not going to work well."
Following his wife's words, the governor-elect took center stage. He was enthusiastic as he thanked the crowd for all of the hard work that they had done.
His closing promise to the room was, "As the governor, I will fight the good fight, I will finish the race and I will keep the faith on behalf of each and every one of you."
