DeSantis Calls on Florida Legislature to Ban Cousin Marriage, Cites Concerns of ‘Stealth Jihad’

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis revealed Monday that he aims to ban cousin marriages in Florida, acknowledging the state lags behind others in prohibiting this practice. The governor made these remarks during a signing ceremony in Tampa for legislation that grants state officials authority to designate groups as terrorist organizations.

“Florida doesn’t ban cousin marriage: That’s a hanging curveball for us to do; we need to do that,” said DeSantis, using baseball terminology to describe what he sees as an obvious legislative opportunity. “Other states have done it. I don’t know why we wouldn’t.”

The governor linked the issue to what he termed “stealth jihad,” suggesting that permitting cousin marriages accommodates cultural practices inconsistent with American and Floridian values. “It’s things that are coming in from other cultures that are not consistent with the United States culture, and certainly our culture here in Florida,” he added.

Current Florida law prohibits marriages between close relatives including siblings, parents, grandparents, nieces, and nephews, but first cousins remain absent from this list. A previous attempt to address this gap through House Bill 733, which would have banned first-cousin marriages starting July 1, failed to pass during the legislative session.

Proponents of such bans typically cite public health concerns, pointing to research indicating higher risks of genetic disorders among children born to first cousins. Critics, however, frame the issue as a matter of personal freedom and family autonomy that should remain free from government interference.

DeSantis had previously signaled his interest in pursuing this legislation last month when he wrote on social media platform X: “For some reason the ban on cousin marriages was dropped during the legislative process. Stay tuned.”

The current legislative session represents DeSantis’s final opportunity to advance this agenda as governor before he terms out at the end of the year. However, analysts note he could potentially call a special session to reintroduce the effort if it remains a priority.

The governor’s comments came during an event where he signed legislation empowering Florida’s chief of domestic security, governor, and cabinet to designate organizations they determine to be engaged in extremist activities as “terrorist organizations.” Under this new law, such designated groups can be forcibly dissolved and have their state funding frozen. Additionally, the legislation mandates that students who promote domestic or foreign terrorist organizations face expulsion from their educational institutions.

During his remarks, DeSantis referenced the recent arrest of relatives of the late Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Major General Qasem Soleimani by federal agents after Secretary of State Marco Rubio terminated their lawful permanent resident status. “How do they get to where she was even here to begin with?” the governor questioned, suggesting broader concerns about immigration policies.

DeSantis framed these initiatives as part of a larger effort to strengthen Florida’s stance on issues related to national security and cultural values. “We have got to stop as a country importing people that reject the values of this country, and that’s just been going on for a long time,” he stated.

The governor’s push to ban cousin marriages aligns with similar actions in other conservative-led states and reflects his broader political positioning on immigration and cultural issues. Florida’s approach to this matter will likely be closely watched by other states considering similar legislation, as well as by advocacy groups on both sides of the debate.

With DeSantis’s gubernatorial term nearing its conclusion, this initiative represents one of his final opportunities to solidify his legacy as a conservative policy innovator in Florida before potentially pursuing other political ambitions.