Casey DeSantis

Jill Casey Black was born on June 26, 1980, in Columbus, Ohio, the second child of Robert Black, an optometrist and former officer in the United States Air Force, and Jeanne Caponigro, a speech-language pathologist and the daughter of a Sicilian immigrant. Black graduated from Troy High School in Troy, Ohio, in 1999. She competed on its equestrian team. ==Media career==

Early in her career, DeSantis hosted the Golf Channel programs On The Tee and PGA Tour Today. She was also a local newscaster and anchor for WJXT, in Jacksonville, Florida. She held several positions there, including general assignment reporter, morning anchor, and police reporter. In 2014, DeSantis was a creator-moderator for The Chat, an hour-long round table panel discussion talk show that aired on Tegna's Jacksonville stations WTLV (NBC) and WJXX (ABC). She also won a regional Suncoast Emmy Award. == First Lady of Florida (2019–present) ==

, 2019 Desantis became first lady of Florida on January 8, 2019, when her husband, Ron DeSantis, became the 46th governor of Florida. In February 2019, DeSantis established the First Lady's Medal for Courage, Commitment, and Service. Soon after, she announced Florida's 2019 Black History Month theme as "Celebrating Public Service" where she and the governor honored the winners of Florida's Black History Month student contests and Excellence in Education Award recipients at the Governor's Mansion. DeSantis recognized Mary Ann Carroll, the only female member of the Highwaymen, as Florida's featured artist for the month. DeSantis participated in a Recovery Redfish Release to address the impacts of red tide. "I've heard from those throughout Florida who understand that our water must be safe for our families, visitors and economy." DeSantis has hosted listening sessions on Venezuela, hurricane relief, and mental health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her husband held a roundtable in August 2020 centered on the mental health impact of the pandemic. According to Politico, DeSantis has taken on a "sort of policy portfolio of her own that ranges from hurricane recovery to issues of mental health" in her role as First Lady. Hope Florida scandal In 2021, DeSantis founded Hope Florida, a charity to connect underprivileged Floridians with government resources, nonprofits, the private sector and religious organizations. In early 2025, the Florida House of Representatives launched an investigation into Hope Florida, in particular a transaction in which the foundation received $10 million of the $67 million legal settlement between Centene and Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. Hope Florida diverted the settlement proceeds to Secure Florida's Future and Save our Society from Drugs. == Political activity ==

In 2023, Casey DeSantis was honored by the Republican Party of Sarasota as "Stateswoman of the Year", an award that had been earned in the past by individuals including her husband, Ron DeSantis, and other national officeholders. She became the first woman to receive the distinction. Ron DeSantis 2024 presidential campaign DeSantis was an advisor to her husband's 2024 presidential campaign. The New York Times has noted her role in advising her husband on media strategy and policy matters. In December 2023, she was criticized for telling Republicans nationwide to participate in the Iowa caucus. Potential political future After receiving the Stateswoman of the Year award, speculation surrounding a potential bid by Casey DeSantis in Florida's 2026 gubernatorial election has emerged. However, Puck reported that a spokesperson for the DeSantis campaign denied her interest in running for office. In 2025, press reports speculated DeSantis was considered to fill the vacancy of Lieutenant Governor of Florida after the resignation of Jeanette Nuñez. ==Personal life==

She met Ron DeSantis, then a naval officer at Naval Station Mayport, on a golf course at the University of North Florida. They married on September 26, 2009, at Walt Disney World Resort, which Ron DeSantis later called "kind of ironic" in the wake of his battle with the company over the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act. They have three children together: two daughters and a son. On October 4, 2021, her husband announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. On March 3, 2022, she announced that she was cancer-free. Like her husband, DeSantis is Roman Catholic. ==References==