Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) hit back at Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) on his home turf Sunday over Californians fleeing the state, marking the latest in the growing rivalry between the two.
Speaking at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, DeSantis used his speech to remark on Newsom's recent fixation on Florida, alluding to Newsom's ad campaign and public broadsides aimed at presenting California as a bastion of freedom and Florida's government as overbearing.
GAVIN NEWSOM CRITICIZED FOR TRAVELING OUT OF STATE AMID RECORD CALIFORNIA SNOWSTORM
"I knew you guys got a lot of problems out here, but your governor is very concerned about what we're doing in Florida, so I figured I had to come by," DeSantis quipped in his speech, per Fox News.
Newsom and DeSantis have been speculated 2024 hopefuls, though Newsom has ruled out a run, while DeSantis has indicated that he will announce his plans later in the year.
For months, the two have traded barbs, juxtaposing their states and trying to claim credit for governing the freer state of the two. California's population suffered a decline during the fallout from the pandemic, and the state lost a congressional seat. Meanwhile, Florida's population has grown, and the state gained a seat.
"I think if you look over the last four or five years, and you look at the performances of individual states, and you compare Florida versus California, New York, Illinois, some of those other states, we have had a great experiment," he added. "Because, of course, you know, we approach things much differently in Florida than you guys have out here."
DeSantis catapulted to GOP stardom for his public disparagement of stringent COVID-19 suppression measures. Although Florida initially enacted COVID-19 restriction measures, the state was far laxer than California during the pandemic. He has occasionally compared the two sides.
"And I can tell you, we had families move from the Pacific coast just for the fact that we had schools open in Florida, when you didn't have them open in many other states," DeSantis added.
Criticisms from DeSantis and other Republicans regarding California prompted Newsom to embark on a campaign to undercut the narrative. Last year, he began purchasing ads and billboards to rip DeSantis, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX), and other Republicans for loose gun laws, strict abortion laws, and restrictions targeting woke culture.
"I urge all of you who live in Florida to join the fight, or join us in California, where we still believe in freedom, freedom of speech, freedom to choose, freedom from hate, and the freedom to love," Newsom declared in one ad.
During his speech, DeSantis contrasted Newsom with Reagan, whom he stressed "understood the vital role that government had to play."
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A crowd of roughly 1,300 attendees was present for DeSantis's address, according to his team. Prior to his speech, the library was targeted by vandals who used graffiti to write "Ron DeFascist," per local reports.
DeSantis's visit to the Reagan library comes as he is promoting his new book, The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival, released last week.