DeSantis criticizes GOP’s losing culture.

Gov. DeSantis Calls for an End to the “Culture of Losing” in the GOP

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is urging the Republican Party to take responsibility for their losses in the past three election cycles, stating that a “culture of losing” is developing within the party. During a press conference on Monday, the Florida governor emphasized the importance of accountability and results-driven governance for elected officials.

Recent Election Results

• In 2018, Republicans lost control of the House
• In 2020, Republicans lost the Senate and the presidency
• In 2022, the GOP underperformed in most states during the midterm elections

DeSantis believes that the lack of accountability within the party is contributing to this “culture of losing.” He pointed out that, aside from Florida and Iowa, there was no “red wave” across the country during the 2022 midterms. However, DeSantis is proud of Florida’s victories in state and federal congressional races, as well as his own gubernatorial win by nearly 20 percentage points.

Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) also won her reelection bid in a landslide, and the lone Democrat representing Iowa lost her congressional seat, making the state’s congressional delegation entirely Republican. However, the GOP only flipped one governorship during the 2022 midterms, losing three previously held governorships in the process. The party also won the House majority by a smaller margin than anticipated and lost a Senate seat after hoping to win a majority in the chamber.

Focus on Results-Driven Governance

DeSantis emphasized that elected officials should prioritize producing results with governance rather than focusing on “cable news” or “social media.” He believes that bringing about big change to make people’s lives better is the most important matter for elected officials.

DeSantis is expected to announce a presidential bid in the coming weeks and is already traveling to several key states, including Iowa. Polling data suggest that he is in second place in the GOP field behind former President Donald Trump. However, DeSantis’s “losing culture” comments have been perceived as a jab at Trump, who was widely seen as the leader of the Republican Party during their recent losses.

Florida’s New Legislation

The press conference where DeSantis made these comments was also where he signed laws preventing state universities from using funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. DeSantis believes that this legislation will encourage diversity of thought, civil discourse, and the pursuit of truth for generations to come.

“Florida has ranked No. 1 in higher education for seven years in a row, and by signing this legislation, we are ensuring that Florida’s institutions encourage diversity of thought, civil discourse, and the pursuit of truth for generations to come. Florida is taking a stand for empowering students, parents, and educators to focus on creating opportunities for our younger generations. I am happy to have worked with the legislature to get this important legislation signed, sealed, and delivered,” DeSantis said in a statement.

Let’s hope that the Republican Party takes DeSantis’s calls for accountability and results-driven governance to heart and works towards a brighter future for the party and the country.