Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis among finalists for Time Magazine's 2022 Person of the Year
DeSantis fires back at Trump attacks: 'Go check out the scoreboard from last Tuesday night'
"One of the things I've learned in this job: When you're leading and getting things done, you take incoming fire. That's just the nature of it... What you learn is — all that's just noise," DeSantis said, without mentioning Trump by name. "At the end of the day, I'd tell people to go check out the scoreboard from last Tuesday night."
TAMPA, Fla. - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ reelection and his battle against what he characterized as the "woke agenda" of liberals has brought him more attention on the national stage — and it could earn him the title of Time Magazine's 2022 Person of the Year.
DeSantis was revealed on Monday to be one of the magazine's 10 finalists for its annual distinction.
Each year, Time gives its "Person of the Year" title to a person, group, object or even an idea that wielded "the most influence in the previous 12 months... for better or for worse."
Every year since 1927, the magazine has done so, with a list that has included U.S. presidents, "The Computer" in 1982, Ebola fighters (2014), and the "Silence Breakers" — or those who shared their stories about sexual assault and harassment in 2017.
The decision isn't always a popular one. Notably, when Time chose Adolf Hitler in 1938, editors explained the controversial choice, writing, "Hitler became in 1938 the greatest threatening force that the democratic, freedom-loving world faces today."
DeSantis gained significant national attention during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic through his outspoken opposition to continued lockdowns and to mask and vaccine mandates, and eventually displayed an eagerness to wade into nearly any cultural divide.
Ahead of the midterm election, DeSantis harnessed the power of incumbency to assemble media, often on short notice and far outside major markets, for news conferences where he would spend significant time honing critiques of Democratic President Joe Biden, liberal policies, and the mainstream media.
Republican gubernatorial candidate for Florida Ron DeSantis speaks during an election night watch party at the Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, on November 8, 2022. (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images)
His landslide gubernatorial reelection victory prompted more speculation of a potential DeSantis presidential run. DeSantis has so far dodged questions on his possible Washington aspirations.
For 2022, the finalists for Person of the Year include DeSantis, protesters in Iran, the U.S. Supreme Court, and Elon Musk, who is in the running again after being named Time's 2021 Person of the Year.
Here are the candidates up for the title in 2022:
- Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wy.
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
- Gun Safety Advocates
- Chinese President Xi Jinping
- Elon Musk
- Protesters in Iran
- Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
- The U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy