DeSantis team criticizes Newsom’s governance as a ‘disaster’, claiming the debate is over.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’s Team Releases Video Criticizing California’s “Liberal Governance”

Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) team has just released a captivating video that takes aim at the “liberal governance” of California under Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA). The video serves as a powerful comparison between DeSantis’s policies in Florida and the challenges faced by the Golden State.

“The debate is already settled,” declares the tweet accompanying the video, in response to Newsom’s calls for a debate with DeSantis.

Highlighting the Issues

In the video, DeSantis’s narration, taken from his remarks at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, in March, emphasizes that “the American people as a whole have voted with their feet.”

The video then showcases clips of newscasters and officials discussing California’s declining population, the homelessness crisis, rising crime rates in San Francisco, and the presence of “needles and feces” on the streets.

Population Decline in California

California has experienced a decline in population for three consecutive years. According to state data, the population dropped from 39,078,674 on January 1, 2022, to 38,940,231 a year later, resulting in a net loss of 138,443 people or 0.4%. Since 2020, the state has seen a decrease of 597,992 people.

In contrast, Florida’s population has grown significantly, with an estimated increase from 21,538,226 in April 2020 to 22,244,823 in 2022, marking a 3.3% population growth during that period. The Census Bureau has even declared Florida as the fastest-growing state of 2022, a first-time achievement for the Sunshine State.

Homelessness Crisis in California

Even Newsom himself acknowledged the severity of the homelessness problem in California during an interview on Fox News Channel’s Hannity. He described it as “disgraceful” and out of control, attributing it to high housing costs, problematic regulations, and local resistance to new housing construction.

Newsom took responsibility for the issue, stating, “We own this, Sean. I’m not defending this.”

A Great Experiment in Governing Philosophies

DeSantis emphasizes that “we have had a great experiment in governing philosophies.” The video then features a clip of Newsom expressing his shock and concern over the state’s situation during a trash cleanup at a rail yard in Los Angeles.

“I see what everybody is seeing, asking myself, ‘What the hell is going on?’ We look like a Third World country,” Newsom exclaims in the clip.

The Exodus from Leftist-Governed States

DeSantis asserts that the exodus of people and businesses from Democrat-run states, including California, is a direct result of poor governance. The video showcases news reports discussing the mass exodus from California while highlighting Florida as the fastest-growing state in the nation, with low unemployment rates and decreasing crime rates.

The claim about Florida’s crime rates is supported by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s 2021 statistics, which revealed that overall crime was at its lowest rate in 50 years.

“This is a result of better governance in states like Florida and the result of poor governance in these left-wing states. That’s why people are moving,” DeSantis concludes.

Newsom and DeSantis: Vocal Critics

Newsom and DeSantis have been vocal critics of each other. Newsom expressed his willingness to debate DeSantis during his appearance on Hannity. Meanwhile, DeSantis’s campaign announced that he would be visiting California to witness firsthand the consequences of liberal governance.

It’s worth noting that Gov. DeSantis is currently a Republican presidential candidate and ranks second in the GOP field, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average. Newsom, on the other hand, has endorsed President Joe Biden for a second term and has stated that he will not challenge Biden in the 2024 election.

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