Who is Jeanette Nuñez? Florida's Lt. Governor moves up if DeSantis wins presidential election

Ana Goñi-Lessan, Tallahassee Democrat

May 25, 2023 at 5:18 AM·3 min read

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis filed to enter the 2024 presidential race Wednesday afternoon after months of anticipation and launched his campaign after successfully pushing a conservative, red meat agenda during this year’s state legislative session. If DeSantis, who will fight for the Republican nominee spot against former President Donald Trump, wins his bid for the White House, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez will step in to lead Florida, according to Florida Statute 14.055.

Nuñez, who got her start in politics as a state representative in 2010, became the first Latina lieutenant governor in Florida in 2018.

More: DeSantis makes it official, files to run for president in 2024

For the first time in Inaugural history, Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses Florida's Legislative leaders and Cabinet officials. DeSantis discusses his plans to work with the state's elected leaders to achieve a Bold Vision for a Brighter Future, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. First lady Casey DeSantis, left, Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez chuckle during a toast.

It’s “a huge source of pride for me, for my family, but most importantly for my community,” she told NBC News.

Nuñez helped DeSantis promote his hard-right policies across the state this year, including slamming diversity, equity and inclusion education in colleges and universities.

“The biggest threat infiltrating our universities is a permeating identity culture. These radical theories and the policies they advocate for are based on hate and indoctrination,” she tweeted in January. “We need to get back to the business of educating our students and preparing them for success.”

Before she became DeSantis’ No. 2, Nuñez represented district 119, which covers part of Miami-Dade County.

The Women for Florida Leadership Breakfast honors the women who made the campaign possible and celebrate the important leadership role women will play in the DeSantis-Nuñez Administration, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. Lieutenant-Governor Jeanette Nuñez addresses the audience and touches on what the future of Florida holds.

She spent eight years representing her hometown, Miami, and was Speaker Pro-Tem under Richard Corcoran, who is now the interim president of New College.

One of the bills Nuñez is most known for allows undocumented Florida students to pay in-state tuition.

Passed in 2014 and signed by former Gov. Rick Scott, the law was at risk of being overturned this year because of SB 1718, an immigration bill that critics have called cruel.

More: DeSantis signs illegal immigration crackdown and rails against Biden

According to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal, 40,152 undocumented students are currently enrolled in Florida colleges and universities, out of more than 1 million overall students.

In an interview in March, Nuñez walked back her previous legislation, saying the state could no longer support the number of undocumented Floridians going to college.

The measure was eventually removed from the bill after Republicans said it went too far.

“If a child does go through our entire public education system, we own it. We’ve educated them. And they’re here,” said 2023 Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples.

When she became DeSantis' running mate in 2018, she helped him reach out to Latinos in Miami-Dade.

"And I have to give a shout out to my home county of Miami-Dade County. We have done a lot of work here, again thanks to so many of you. We have seen so many Hispanics flock to the Republican Party here," she said at a press conference with Sen. Rick Scott in October 2022. "We're going to win Miami-Dade County come Nov. 8, 2022."

In last year's gubernatorial election, the blue county went red for DeSantis, who beat Charlie Crist by more than 11 percentage points.

It was the first year since 2002 that a Republican governor won the most populous county in Florida.

He’s a great Governor and an even better man. He is guided by his convictions and principles. He does not waiver in the face of adversity …Now America needs him. That is why I’m honored to unequivocally endorse Ron DeSantis for President. https://t.co/BKtNnZs8hs
— Jeanette M. Nuñez (@JeanetteNunezFL) May 24, 2023

Nuñez tweeted her support for the DeSantis' presidential bid Wednesday night.

"He’s a great Governor and an even better man. He is guided by his convictions and principles. He does not waiver in the face of adversity …Now America needs him," she wrote.

What is Jeanette Nuñez's background?

Born: June 6, 1972, Miami, FL
City of Residence: Miami
Education: Florida International University, Bachelor's Degree, 1994, Master's Degree, 1998
Former occupation: Health care administrator
Religious Affiliation: Christian
Family: Husband, Adrian Nuñez, and three children
Legislative Service: Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2010, reelected subsequently. Deputy Whip, August 12, 2011-2012. Speaker Pro Tempore, 2016-2018

Zac Anderson contributed to this report. He can be reached at zac.anderson@heraldtribune.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez to assume governorship if DeSantis wins

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What is Jeanette Nuñez's background?

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