Jeb Bush was elected the 43rd governor of the state of Florida on November 3, 1998, and was reelected by a wide margin in 2002. His second term as Governor ended in January 2007.

Bush earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin American Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin and moved to Florida in 1981. With partner Amando Codina, he started a small real estate development company, which grew to become the largest, full-service commercial real estate company in South Florida.

After his election, Bush increased funding for public education and was described as Florida’s “Education Governor” by Florida Trend magazine. He was tough on crime and worked tirelessly to diversify Florida’s economy for the 21st Century, including offering tax relief for individuals and businesses in the state.  Bush put Florida on the forefront of consumer healthcare advances by signing Medicaid reform legislation, “Empowered Care,” in June 2006. 

• He was a key reason why Terri Schiavo was able to live as long as she did, before the courts eventually ruled against "Terri's Law" - a law initiated by Gov. Bush to prevent the starvation of Terri Schiavo when her estranged husband attempted the maneuver in 2003.

• In 2004, the Governor attempted to have the unborn child of a severely disabled woman be appointed a court guardian.

• The Florida Governor was successful in implementing parental notification laws in the state, after nearly two decades of wrangling between the courts, the legislature, voters and governors. The law, which requires physicians to inform parents before their minor daughter is scheduled for an abortion, was signed into law by Bush last May.

• The Governor lamented the loss of life of an unborn child when a 13-year-old in his state was given permission by a judge to have an abortion.

• Last year, the younger of the Bush brothers unveiled a counseling plan for women considering abortion to help them consider alternatives such as adoption.