Florida Is Executing Inmates at Fastest Pace in Decades

Florida has long been a "stronghold of capital punishment," but its death chamber is busier today than it has been since the 1930s, writes Pamela Colloff in a sweeping investigation for ProPublica and the New York Times Magazine. Colloff explores how Gov. Ron DeSantis has turned Florida into the epicenter of capital punishment even as most of the country has pulled back. The state executed 19 men in 2025—more than any year in its history and about 40% of all US executions—under a system where only the governor decides who dies and when, using criteria that aren't public. This year, the state is on a similar pace, with nine executions so far.

Through interviews with prosecutors, defense lawyers, victims' families, and others, Colloff traces how DeSantis went from signing relatively few death warrants early in his tenure to authorizing executions in rapid succession beginning in 2025. The reasons are unclear, but some observers wonder if the governor is polishing his tough-on-crime message ahead of a 2028 presidential run. The piece also examines broader changes that have made Florida more aggressive in pursuing capital punishment, including a new law allowing juries to recommend death by an 8-4 vote instead of requiring unanimity. Supporters see the faster pace as long-overdue justice for victims, while critics argue the state is treating executions with troubling routine—and leaving little time to correct errors. Read the full story.