The Changing Landscape of the Death Penalty in the U.S.

For many years, Texas was synonymous with the death penalty in the United States. The Lone Star State led the nation in executions and new death sentences, year after year. But that has changed significantly. In 2019, Texas executed fewer than ten individuals—only five people faced execution last year. This year, there have been four executions so far, with a couple more on the calendar.

Meanwhile, Florida has surged ahead in death penalty activity, following a strategy proposed two years ago. This year, the state has already conducted several executions, and ten more are planned for 2025. Reports indicate that Governor Ron DeSantis aims to conduct more executions in a single year than his predecessors since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Last year alone, Florida saw seven new death sentences—the highest in the nation.

Florida’s crackdown on the death penalty has raised questions and concerns as it has become a more integral part of its criminal justice system. In 2023, a new law was enacted allowing the death penalty for adult offenders convicted of sexual assaults against children under twelve, despite a 2009 U.S. Supreme Court ruling against similar laws in Louisiana.

This wasn’t just a random legislative move. The bill contained language asserting that the previous Supreme Court decision in *Kennedy v. Louisiana* was misjudged and violated state prerogatives to impose the most severe penalties for heinous crimes.

By December 2023, a prosecutor announced plans to seek the death penalty for Joseph Andrew Jumpa, accused of sexually assaulting a child under twelve. Interestingly, he had previously pleaded guilty to life in prison.

Florida also made it easier for juries to convict on capital offenses. The recent law allows for death penalty sentences if just eight out of twelve jurors agree, making Florida the second state—after Alabama—to adopt such a measure.

In January 2025, Florida legislators passed the so-called Trump Act, which mandates automatic death sentences for “illegal aliens” found guilty of capital offenses. DeSantis signed this law, even though it significantly diverges from Supreme Court precedents laid down since 1976.

Additionally, in June, Florida expanded the death penalty to include crimes like child sex trafficking—further complicating the ethical landscape surrounding capital punishment. The law also opened the door for the use of different methods of execution.

With this uptick in executions, it’s easy to see why some are comparing Florida to Texas. However, motivations behind this surge may be more complex than they seem. DeSantis, with his political ambitions, has clearly pushed for a more aggressive stance on the death penalty. He claims this is necessary due to violent crimes, arguing that the death penalty is the only fitting punishment and reflects community outrage.

Yet, the recent history of the death penalty under DeSantis paints a different picture. From 2020 to 2022, no executions were recorded during his first term. So, where was the outrage then?

In 2023, as DeSantis ramped up his presidential campaign, six death warrants were signed, whereas only one was signed in 2024 when he was no longer a candidate.

An analysis reveals a troubling trend: from 1976 to 2014, approximately 72% of executions involved cases with white victims, despite white victims making up only 56% of murder cases. This pattern persists, as recent statistics indicate that 95% of execution warrants signed by DeSantis have involved white victims.

The enthusiasm for the death penalty in Florida raises important questions about fairness and justice in capital cases. As these issues continue to unfold, it’s clear we have a lot to reconsider.