Every election year, politicians promise to “fix government.” Few ever do. But in Florida, something different happened — a quiet revolution that began long before the headlines, reshaped how a state runs, and proved that disciplined policy can deliver real results.
In this episode of Breaking Battlegrounds, hosts Sam Stone and Seth Leibsohn are joined by Dr. Bob McClure, President and CEO of the James Madison Institute, to explore how Florida became the national model for transparent, accountable governance — and why lawmakers across the country now look to the Sunshine State for answers.
Reform That Started Before DeSantis
“Florida has really gotten its act together,” Stone remarked. “If you go back twenty years, the state was kind of a national joke.”
Dr. McClure agreed, noting that while Governor Ron DeSantis deserves tremendous credit, Florida’s transformation didn’t begin with him — it started years earlier, through policy reformers and civic leaders committed to rebuilding trust in state institutions.
“This was the product of steady work over time,” McClure said. “You had leaders across multiple administrations who stayed focused on outcomes — improving systems, empowering voters, and putting transparency at the center of everything.”
Those long-term efforts laid the groundwork for DeSantis to expand upon — and helped make Florida the well-run powerhouse it is today.
The North Star for Conservative Governance
Leibsohn pointed out a remarkable shift happening across the country:
“When legislators are presented with a new policy idea, the first question they ask now is, ‘Has Florida done this?’”
That’s not just a compliment — it’s a recognition that Florida has become the North Star for effective conservative governance.
Through consistent reforms in election integrity, education, and economic policy, the state has earned a reputation for results-driven leadership — one that transcends party talking points.
“When the benchmark for good governance is Florida,” Stone said, “you’re not going to find a brighter one.”
The DeSantis Era and the Power of Partnership
Governor Ron DeSantis has continued that legacy with a mix of bold leadership and disciplined follow-through. Stone praised his administration as one of the most effective in modern politics — and gave special mention to Casey DeSantis for her visible role in that success.
“Ron DeSantis is a brilliant governor,” Stone said. “And I’d have a hard time not voting for Casey if she ran — she’s been active, involved, and clearly part of the success story.”
McClure added that what sets Florida apart isn’t just political leadership, but policy consistency.
“We’ve focused on governing well — on results, not noise,” he said. “That’s what creates trust, and that’s what keeps Florida moving forward.”
Lessons for Arizona — and Beyond
As the episode wrapped, the hosts turned their attention to Arizona and other states looking to turn things around.
“Hopefully we get a Republican governor in Arizona who’s worth their salt,” Stone said. “Florida shows what can happen when a state governs with principle and discipline.”
McClure agreed, emphasizing that the “Florida Formula” isn’t unique — it’s repeatable anywhere. It just requires leaders willing to do the hard, often unglamorous work of reform.
Tune In
Florida didn’t stumble into success — it built it. Through focus, transparency, and leadership grounded in principle, the Sunshine State has become proof that conservative governance can work, and work well.
Catch the full conversation with Dr. Bob McClure, Sam Stone, and Seth Leibsohn on Breaking Battlegrounds.
Transcript
**Sam Stone: **Welcome back to Breaking Battlegrounds. I want to thank our first guest today, Bob McClure. He’s doing fantastic work, presidency of the James Madison Institute. Florida has really gotten its act together, Seth, over the last two decades. I mean, Florida was kind of a joke. If you go back two decades ago, I mean, they were really kind of a national joke.
And Ron DeSantis gets a ton of credit, as he should, absolutely deserved. But there’s been a lot of other people in that state starting before DeSantis who created this turnaround, I would say Florida’s the best-run state in the country right now.
**Bob McClure: **Very well could be. One of the ways you know this is you do some work with the legislature. I do some work over with some legislators at the Capitol. A lot of them on our team, if you are presenting them with an idea or a concept, they will ask, has Florida done this? What has Florida done on this? When that’s the North Star for good Republican governance, then you’re not gonna find a brighter one.You know a lot of people were kind of interested in the DeSantis candidacy for the presidency. Truth of the matter is, he’s best where he is.
**Sam Stone: **He is a brilliant governor. I mean, brilliant governor. that’s why, by the way, we don’t know all the field yet. But I think I would have a hard time if I weren’t living in Florida, not voting for Casey DeSantis, because I know how close she’s been to her husband’s time as governor and how active she’s been. I would love to see another eight years of the DeSantis legacy in Florida, because I think you’re just locking in the brightest future for that state. And hopefully here in Arizona we turn things around and we get a Republican governor in there who’s worth their salt.
Listen to the full episode of Breaking Battlegrounds anywhere you stream your podcasts!