DeSantis’ culture wars grabbed headlines — and legal challenges that cost $17 million
Ron DeSantis signed HB 7, known as the“ stop woke” bill, in Hialeah Gardens, Fla., on April 22, 2022. - Daniel A. Varela/Miami Herald/TNS

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis’ political strategy has won national attention for his ability to shrewdly select culture war issues and use a compliant Florida Legislature to advance them. But while the agenda has drawn more than 15 lawsuits, it has so far yielded few legal victories, and cost Florida taxpayers nearly $17 million in legal fees to date. In case after case, courts have scaled back, thrown out, or left in legal limbo rules and laws that impose restrictions on social media giants, limit voting, curb gender-related health care, influence speech in the workplace, college camp...