Florida executions surge to 37 under Governor DeSantis

Florida has executed 37 people over a two-year period under Governor Ron DeSantis, marking a significant increase from previous years. In 2025, the state carried out 19 executions—the highest in the U.S.—up from six in 2023 and one in 2024. The trend continued into 2026, with 18 executions recorded by October.

The state's capital punishment system is facing scrutiny due to its sentencing standards. Florida and Alabama are the only U.S. states that do not require a unanimous jury verdict to impose a death sentence; currently, only eight out of 12 jurors must agree. Critics, including the nonprofit Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, argue this allows for death sentences even when some jurors favor life imprisonment.

Concerns regarding wrongful convictions have also surfaced. Samuel Jason Derrick, 59, faces a death warrant despite maintaining his innocence and citing unexplored DNA evidence related to a 1987 murder. Derrick claims his initial confession was coerced. Additionally, the Death Penalty Information Center notes that Florida has seen 30 exonerations since 1973, the highest number in the country.