Ron DeSantis Encounters a Fresh Political Adversary Nearby
Tensions have been on the rise throughout this year's Florida legislative session, potentially reaching a climax just last week.
TroibNews 
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is currently facing significant political challenges not from prominent national Democrats like Kamala Harris or Gavin Newsom but from within his own party. The 37-year-old GOP state House Speaker, Daniel Perez, has emerged as a formidable opponent, obstructing the governor’s agenda in a legislature that typically aligns with DeSantis’ wishes. Additionally, he has raised legal concerns about a nonprofit linked to a key initiative championed by first lady Casey DeSantis.
Perez, an attorney from Miami who has ascended rapidly in political circles, has frustrated DeSantis to the extent that the governor frequently criticizes House Republicans, effectively targeting Perez, calling them tools of the “left” intent on dismantling DeSantis’ conservative agenda. In response, Perez has remarked that DeSantis is "emotional." The governor also lambasted Perez for his association with John Morgan, a notable trial lawyer and former significant Democratic donor.
Despite DeSantis’ robust national presence as a conservative figure and potential 2028 presidential candidate, his influence is being challenged locally by Perez, a swiftly rising GOP leader in Tallahassee.
Tensions have escalated throughout this year's Florida legislative session, culminating last week when DeSantis condemned the House GOP over a budget proposal he deemed “treacherous” for its cuts to state law enforcement. This outburst followed his declaration that he would veto numerous House bills, labeling House members as a “cabal” and accusing them of “stabbing” voters in the back.
Perez countered by accusing the governor of "lying" about House legislation and throwing "temper tantrums."
“Just because our opinion is different than his doesn’t mean we have to be enemies. He is choosing to be enemies,” Perez stated. “I don’t want to be his enemy. I want to be his partner.”
This discord arises amidst a growing investigation in the House into a nonprofit connected to Hope Florida, a program initiated by the first lady aimed at helping individuals transition away from governmental assistance.
Perez and other Republicans have raised questions regarding the legality of $10 million derived from a settlement between the state and a Medicaid vendor that was funneled to the foundation, which subsequently delivered the funds to two other nonprofits. These organizations then transferred millions to a group led by DeSantis’ chief of staff, which is opposing a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana.
DeSantis has categorically dismissed these allegations as a “hoax,” suggesting the House's investigations serve to jeopardize Casey DeSantis’ political ambitions, as she considers a run for governor.
“I think it’s politically motivated,” DeSantis remarked.
While the governor disparages Perez and House Republicans, many in leadership positions within the state House speak highly of their speaker.
“I think he is the single most talented political person I have dealt with in political office,” commented state Rep. Sam Garrison, a northeast Florida Republican positioned to succeed Perez as speaker.
Senator Rick Scott, a former governor with a history of tension with DeSantis, believes Perez is “doing the right thing.”
“He’s trying to take care of taxpayers,” Scott noted. “My job in D.C. as a legislator and his job here as a legislator is to hold the executive branch accountable. So that’s what he’s trying to do. He’s trying to watch out for taxpayer money.”
Perez’s rise to becoming DeSantis’ chief antagonist began after a political scandal in Miami, which resulted in the resignation of a Republican state senator following a racial slur incident. Consequently, a prominent Miami House member left to pursue a Senate seat, paving the way for a special election in 2017 that Perez won.
In Florida's term-limited environment, this allowed Perez to emerge as a “redshirt freshman” capable of campaigning for House speaker ahead of those elected in 2018. By the summer of 2019, he had secured enough pledges, showcasing what Garrison described as his “superhuman” ability to connect with fellow legislators.
“He knows their stories, he knows their spouses, he knows their kids,” Garrison reflected. "I’ve never known anything like it. … His gift is relationships. And with the challenges of the last few months, he has had to draw on it.”
However, his path to the speakership faced turbulence in 2020 when he was unexpectedly targeted by outgoing House Speaker Jose Oliva, a Miami Republican and a close ally of DeSantis. Oliva’s political committee financed attacks against Perez leading up to that year’s elections, with mailers and social media ads accusing him, as a Cuban American, of being a “disgrace” to Miami's exile community.
When approached for comment, Oliva refrained from discussing Perez but responded to one of Perez's social media posts by warning: “Beware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. If you claim to be a conservative all you have done is support overriding spending cuts and obstruct the efforts of the country’s most conservative governor, you have nothing to be proud of. Do not cloak yourself in the work of others to shield your malice.”
Former state House Speaker Paul Renner, who helped advance numerous bills advocated by DeSantis, has criticized the House over perceived detrimental legislation.
State Rep. Lawrence McClure, a Plant City Republican and a roommate of Perez in Tallahassee, expressed confusion over DeSantis and Oliva’s claims that Perez has not been sufficiently conservative.
McClure pointed out that the House's budget proposal is billions less than what DeSantis suggested, includes a $5 billion tax cut, and passed a bill to lower the legal age for purchasing rifles from 21 to 18.
“Those are not liberal policies,” McClure stated, also serving as the House budget chair.
Perez's swift rise in Florida politics is noteworthy. He earned his law degree from a university in New Orleans just over a decade ago and was working as an attorney for health care companies when he began his political career.
In 2023, the same year he was officially named the Republican nominee for speaker, Perez’s financial disclosures revealed he took on two new roles: one as an attorney with a firm founded by Robert Fernandez, a former deputy general counsel under Governor Jeb Bush, and another with a Florida-based private equity firm, Assurance Capital.
His financial disclosures showed a dramatic increase in family income from $261,000 in one year to over $1 million, including earnings of over $166,000 from Assurance and more than $534,000 with RHF Law Firm.
When asked about his dual roles, Perez explained, “I am a guy in my thirties with three kids so working hard to support my family is a requirement at this stage of my life.”
He stated he no longer works for Assurance, although the firm remains a legal client. His profile was listed on the Assurance website until shortly after a reporter inquired about his employment there.
He also noted he had no involvement in investor relations with Assurance.
Assurance’s website also indicated that the equity fund had invested in a Largo, Florida-based company with contracts from the state-funded Department of Transportation. Responding to this, Perez said he had never heard of the company, Turtle Infrastructure Partners, and was unaware of their operations.
Regarding his compensation with Assurance, he clarified, “not contingent on any external metrics. I am paid for the legal work I perform for the company.” He added that it was “insulting” to raise issues about the highway maintenance company, especially as the House looks to redirect funds away from the transportation trust fund.
He argued that inquiries into Assurance “suggest these questions are being pushed by political operatives trying to distract from actual questions of malfeasance by their client.”
Perez’s rapport with DeSantis soured further when the Speaker and Senate President Ben Albritton resisted the governor's call for a special session early in the year to create a law supporting Trump’s mass deportation initiative. It took three legislative attempts before they arrived at a bill acceptable to DeSantis.
Beginning this legislative session, Perez made it clear he would not play the "game" of solely promoting his priorities, urging House members to assert their own agenda. Throughout the session, the House has held hearings questioning agency heads, scrutinizing why the legislature was left uninformed about insurance industry practices during its crackdown on insurers, and initiated an investigation into Hope Florida and its nonprofit.
This week, Perez stated that their inquiries and investigations would continue even beyond the end of the regular session next month, proclaiming, “we are far from the end.”
“We are getting towards the end of our first session, but we still have a good amount of time left on the clock before I have to pack my box and head back to Miami,” he remarked. “And anything and everything is on the table on what can come before the House over the next year and a half.”
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
Perez, an attorney from Miami who has ascended rapidly in political circles, has frustrated DeSantis to the extent that the governor frequently criticizes House Republicans, effectively targeting Perez, calling them tools of the “left” intent on dismantling DeSantis’ conservative agenda. In response, Perez has remarked that DeSantis is "emotional." The governor also lambasted Perez for his association with John Morgan, a notable trial lawyer and former significant Democratic donor.
Despite DeSantis’ robust national presence as a conservative figure and potential 2028 presidential candidate, his influence is being challenged locally by Perez, a swiftly rising GOP leader in Tallahassee.
Tensions have escalated throughout this year's Florida legislative session, culminating last week when DeSantis condemned the House GOP over a budget proposal he deemed “treacherous” for its cuts to state law enforcement. This outburst followed his declaration that he would veto numerous House bills, labeling House members as a “cabal” and accusing them of “stabbing” voters in the back.
Perez countered by accusing the governor of "lying" about House legislation and throwing "temper tantrums."
“Just because our opinion is different than his doesn’t mean we have to be enemies. He is choosing to be enemies,” Perez stated. “I don’t want to be his enemy. I want to be his partner.”
This discord arises amidst a growing investigation in the House into a nonprofit connected to Hope Florida, a program initiated by the first lady aimed at helping individuals transition away from governmental assistance.
Perez and other Republicans have raised questions regarding the legality of $10 million derived from a settlement between the state and a Medicaid vendor that was funneled to the foundation, which subsequently delivered the funds to two other nonprofits. These organizations then transferred millions to a group led by DeSantis’ chief of staff, which is opposing a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana.
DeSantis has categorically dismissed these allegations as a “hoax,” suggesting the House's investigations serve to jeopardize Casey DeSantis’ political ambitions, as she considers a run for governor.
“I think it’s politically motivated,” DeSantis remarked.
While the governor disparages Perez and House Republicans, many in leadership positions within the state House speak highly of their speaker.
“I think he is the single most talented political person I have dealt with in political office,” commented state Rep. Sam Garrison, a northeast Florida Republican positioned to succeed Perez as speaker.
Senator Rick Scott, a former governor with a history of tension with DeSantis, believes Perez is “doing the right thing.”
“He’s trying to take care of taxpayers,” Scott noted. “My job in D.C. as a legislator and his job here as a legislator is to hold the executive branch accountable. So that’s what he’s trying to do. He’s trying to watch out for taxpayer money.”
Perez’s rise to becoming DeSantis’ chief antagonist began after a political scandal in Miami, which resulted in the resignation of a Republican state senator following a racial slur incident. Consequently, a prominent Miami House member left to pursue a Senate seat, paving the way for a special election in 2017 that Perez won.
In Florida's term-limited environment, this allowed Perez to emerge as a “redshirt freshman” capable of campaigning for House speaker ahead of those elected in 2018. By the summer of 2019, he had secured enough pledges, showcasing what Garrison described as his “superhuman” ability to connect with fellow legislators.
“He knows their stories, he knows their spouses, he knows their kids,” Garrison reflected. "I’ve never known anything like it. … His gift is relationships. And with the challenges of the last few months, he has had to draw on it.”
However, his path to the speakership faced turbulence in 2020 when he was unexpectedly targeted by outgoing House Speaker Jose Oliva, a Miami Republican and a close ally of DeSantis. Oliva’s political committee financed attacks against Perez leading up to that year’s elections, with mailers and social media ads accusing him, as a Cuban American, of being a “disgrace” to Miami's exile community.
When approached for comment, Oliva refrained from discussing Perez but responded to one of Perez's social media posts by warning: “Beware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. If you claim to be a conservative all you have done is support overriding spending cuts and obstruct the efforts of the country’s most conservative governor, you have nothing to be proud of. Do not cloak yourself in the work of others to shield your malice.”
Former state House Speaker Paul Renner, who helped advance numerous bills advocated by DeSantis, has criticized the House over perceived detrimental legislation.
State Rep. Lawrence McClure, a Plant City Republican and a roommate of Perez in Tallahassee, expressed confusion over DeSantis and Oliva’s claims that Perez has not been sufficiently conservative.
McClure pointed out that the House's budget proposal is billions less than what DeSantis suggested, includes a $5 billion tax cut, and passed a bill to lower the legal age for purchasing rifles from 21 to 18.
“Those are not liberal policies,” McClure stated, also serving as the House budget chair.
Perez's swift rise in Florida politics is noteworthy. He earned his law degree from a university in New Orleans just over a decade ago and was working as an attorney for health care companies when he began his political career.
In 2023, the same year he was officially named the Republican nominee for speaker, Perez’s financial disclosures revealed he took on two new roles: one as an attorney with a firm founded by Robert Fernandez, a former deputy general counsel under Governor Jeb Bush, and another with a Florida-based private equity firm, Assurance Capital.
His financial disclosures showed a dramatic increase in family income from $261,000 in one year to over $1 million, including earnings of over $166,000 from Assurance and more than $534,000 with RHF Law Firm.
When asked about his dual roles, Perez explained, “I am a guy in my thirties with three kids so working hard to support my family is a requirement at this stage of my life.”
He stated he no longer works for Assurance, although the firm remains a legal client. His profile was listed on the Assurance website until shortly after a reporter inquired about his employment there.
He also noted he had no involvement in investor relations with Assurance.
Assurance’s website also indicated that the equity fund had invested in a Largo, Florida-based company with contracts from the state-funded Department of Transportation. Responding to this, Perez said he had never heard of the company, Turtle Infrastructure Partners, and was unaware of their operations.
Regarding his compensation with Assurance, he clarified, “not contingent on any external metrics. I am paid for the legal work I perform for the company.” He added that it was “insulting” to raise issues about the highway maintenance company, especially as the House looks to redirect funds away from the transportation trust fund.
He argued that inquiries into Assurance “suggest these questions are being pushed by political operatives trying to distract from actual questions of malfeasance by their client.”
Perez’s rapport with DeSantis soured further when the Speaker and Senate President Ben Albritton resisted the governor's call for a special session early in the year to create a law supporting Trump’s mass deportation initiative. It took three legislative attempts before they arrived at a bill acceptable to DeSantis.
Beginning this legislative session, Perez made it clear he would not play the "game" of solely promoting his priorities, urging House members to assert their own agenda. Throughout the session, the House has held hearings questioning agency heads, scrutinizing why the legislature was left uninformed about insurance industry practices during its crackdown on insurers, and initiated an investigation into Hope Florida and its nonprofit.
This week, Perez stated that their inquiries and investigations would continue even beyond the end of the regular session next month, proclaiming, “we are far from the end.”
“We are getting towards the end of our first session, but we still have a good amount of time left on the clock before I have to pack my box and head back to Miami,” he remarked. “And anything and everything is on the table on what can come before the House over the next year and a half.”
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
