Where'd Ron go? Keeping track of Florida Gov. DeSantis' out-of-state travels

Gov. Ron DeSantis has been traveling around the country so far this year amid his ascent to presidential contender status.

His trips include accepting awards, going on his nation-hopping book tour for his latest book, “The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival,” and giving speeches to boost his name ID as someone likely to run for leader of the free world. 

Now that he's made his presidential aspirations official, the governor has commenced a series of out-of-state trips, including Iowa and early primary states – and we're keeping track of where he travels. 

Here’s the list, which will be updated periodically:

The Breakdown

So far this year, DeSantis has visited: 

• Kansas City, Missouri
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• New York City
• The District of Columbia
• Chicago, Illinois
• Houston and Dallas, Texas
• Simi Valley, California
• Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Smyrna, Georgia
• Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
• Long Island, New York
• West Chester Township and Akron, Ohio
• Manchester, New Hampshire
• Charleston and Spartanburg, South Carolina
• Japan, South Korea, Israel & the United Kingdom (international trade mission)
• Rothschild, Wisconsin
• Peoria, Illinois
• Sioux Center & Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Concord, New Hampshire
• Clive, Iowa
• Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Pella and Cedar Rapids in Iowa.

Jan. 23, 2023

His first out-of-state appearance of 2023 wasn’t a political one. He traveled to Kansas City, Missouri to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars play the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional playoff game. The Chiefs ended up winning 27-20. 

Jan. 24, 2023

DeSantis traveled to Philadelphia to receive a gold medal from the Union League of Philadelphia, a private club that dates back to the 1800s. His arrival in the city was met with protests from city leaders, activists and organizers. 

Feb. 10, 2023

According to U.S. Rep. Ben Cline of Virginia, DeSantis visited Washington, D.C. to give “an exciting update to the House Freedom Caucus about the great work he is doing down in Florida.” DeSantis was one of the founding members of the caucus when he was in Congress. 

Feb. 20, 2023

In the first event of the year that outwardly appeared to be a precursor to a presidential run, DeSantis visited three Democratic-controlled northern cities in one day: New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago. During the trip, he was there to “meet with the men & women of law enforcement to discuss FL's commitment to law & order,” according to his tweet.

March 3, 2023

In the first stop of a two-day tour of Texas, he was in Houston to be the keynote speaker for the Harris County Republican Party’s Lincoln Reagan Dinner fundraiser. Media was not allowed inside the event, and protesters demonstrated outside. He did give a “fireside chat” speech, however.

March 4, 2023 

In Dallas, he headlined another fundraiser, this time for the Dallas County Republican Party. This event was also closed to the media, but in his public appearances he kept signaling that Florida and Texas are the two states fighting against “the left."

March 5, 2023

DeSantis took his road trip to California, speaking at a sold-out event at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in as part of his book tour. Reporters that covered his 45-minute remarks noted that it resembled a presidential stump speech. 

March 10, 2023

He made his first stop in Iowa, a key state for those running in presidential primaries. His trip included visits to Davenport and Des Moines, where he was joined by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, where the pair had interview-style conversations at each event.

March 11, 2023 

His book tour also took him to Nevada, where he had a speaking event in Las Vegas. Nevada is one of the first states to vote in the presidential primaries, currently scheduled for Feb. 6, 2024.

March 30, 2023

He spoke at Adventure Outdoors in Smryna, one of the largest gun stores in the country, located in the Atlanta metro area. The event was sponsored by a new group called And to the Republic, which is “supporting (his) national political activity.” The group backed his Iowa trips earlier in March as well.

April 1, 2023

DeSantis gave a speech in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he said he was proud of what conservatives have accomplished in Florida and wants to bring it to the rest of the country. The speech was at the conservative Pennsylvania Leadership Conference.

April 2, 2023

The next stop in DeSantis’ book tour took him to Long Island, New York. The event was attended by Trump supporters who were there to protest DeSantis.

April 13, 2023

The governor was the keynote speaker for the Butler County, Ohio, Republican Party’s 2023 Lincoln Day dinner. The event was in West Chester Township, about 25 miles north of Cincinnati. His trip also took him to Akron.

April 14, 2023

DeSantis spoke at a GOP fundraising event in Manchester, New Hampshire. His speech was interrupted by two protesters, who shouted “Jews against DeSantis!” when he was on stage.

April 18, 2023

Amid Trump securing key endorsements from Florida Republican Congressmen and women, DeSantis met with several members of his state’s delegation in D.C. However, some continued to endorse Trump after his meeting with them.

April 19, 2023

The governor promoted his book at North Charleston Coliseum Montague Terrace and he and First Lady Casey DeSantis visited the Summerville Country Club, both in the Charleston area. He then headed to Spartanburg – about 180 miles away – to speak at First Baptist North Spartanburg as a guest of GOP state Sen. Josh Kimbrell.

April 22, 2023

DeSantis visited two states on this day. Republican venture capital billionaire Joe Lonsdale held an event for DeSantis in Austin, Texas. The Governor was also the keynote speaker at the Utah Republican Convention at Utah Valley University.

April 24 & 25, 2023

During the first two days of his international Florida trade mission, DeSantis visited Tokyo Japan, where he met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and others. He also fielded questions from the press about how he is falling behind in polls against Donald Trump.

April 26, 2023

DeSantis next visited Seoul, South Korea, where he met with South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and several business leaders, like Hyundai Motor Group President Karl Kim and Kia Global President & CEO Ho Sung Song. He also signed a memorandum of understanding with a Korean company to create a clean hydrogen hub in central Florida.

April 27, 2023

The governor visited Jerusalem, Israel on the third stop in his international tour. He called the country one of America’s “most valued and trusted allies” and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

April 28, 2023

DeSantis was in London, England, the last stop of his overseas trade mission. Among other things, he "was joined by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. President and CEO Tim Cerio for a discussion with reinsurance companies" and met with Secretary of State for Business & Trade Kemi Badenoch and Foreign Minister James Cleverly. 

May 6, 2023

The governor was the “special guest” at the Marathon County, Wisconsin, Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner, held at the Central Wisconsin Convention & Expo Center in Rothschild, where he "continued to focus on his record as Florida’s governor, rather than making a direct case for why he should be president," the New York Times reported. 

May 12 & 13, 2023

The governor was in Illinois to deliver a speech at the annual Peoria-Tazewell County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner at the Peoria Civic Center. Then he attended two events in Iowa the next day: U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra’s annual family picnic in Sioux Center and a Republican Party of Iowa fundraiser in Cedar Rapids.

May 19, 2023

DeSantis went to New Hampshire to meet with state GOP lawmakers. While there, he visited the Red Arrow Diner to talk with voters. He also had a meeting with the state's Republican governor, Chris Sununu, who is considering his own run for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. 

May 30, 2023

The governor hosted a "campaign kickoff" at Eternity Church in Clive, Iowa, roughly eight miles west of downtown Des Moines, the state's capital. The event came a week after he launched his campaign for president on Twitter. 

May 31, 2023

DeSantis remained in Iowa, with scheduled stops in Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Pella and Cedar Rapids, according to his campaign.