DeSantis

The Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, has launched a political action committee that is targeting popular ballot amendments on abortion access and marijuana legalization that will be voted on in November.

The group, known as the Florida Freedom Fund, launched in May, Politico first reported. The committee is chaired by James Uthmeier, DeSantis's chief of staff who was previously the Republican's campaign manager during his unsuccessful presidential primary run.

In addition to targeting ballot initiatives, the committee will get involved in school board races, Politico reported, citing an individual who is familiar with the group's plans.

Florida Republicans have attempted to maximize their political control of local school boards, especially amid book bans and far-right education laws banning discussions of race and sexual identity being passed in the state, WUFT reported.

A spokesperson for the governor told Politico that the goal of the political action committee is to support issues and candidates that are "committed to preserving Floridians' freedom".

"From up and down ballot races to critical amendments, we're steadfast in our mission to keep Florida free," a DeSantis spokesperson, Taryn Fenske, said.

Reproductive-rights activists have been pushing for voters to support an upcoming ballot initiative that would enshrine broader abortion access in Florida's constitution, Axios reported.