Keywords
Rhetoric; DeSantis; Legislature; Policymaking; Leadership
Abstract
This paper examines how Governor DeSantis has used rhetoric to advance his political identity and policy during the Florida legislative sessions from 2019 to 2025. Using rhetorical analysis, the study identifies linguistic techniques and persuasive devices that help shape DeSantis’s policy agenda and drive legislation. This study is important as it explores the ability of political figures to ground themselves in language and push political ideologies. The findings reveal a consistent emphasis on ethos while simultaneously appealing to unity, strengthen, and moral clarity. Over time, DeSantis’s rhetoric evolves from defensive to assertive leadership framed by appeals to national policy and government comparison. Ultimately, the analysis shows how his speech develops in relation to different variables such as reelection revealing that the state of the state address is not merely a policy summary, but a strategic performance designed to brand leadership and advance his vision of Florida.
Thesis Completion Year
2025
Thesis Completion Semester
Fall
Thesis Chair
Jewett Aubrey
College
College of Sciences
Department
Politics, Security, and International Affairs
Thesis Discipline
Political Science
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Laird, Victoria T., "Crisis, Controversy, And Credibility: Rhetorical Appeals In Governor Desantis’ State Of The State Addresses" (2025). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 441.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/441
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