DeSantis pins ‘massive exodus out of California’ on Newsom
Jenny Goldsberry
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Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) blasted Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) for the “huge problems” in California in a press conference on Thursday.
The Florida governor was signing the $114.8 billion Framework for Freedom Budget during the conference and answered a question afterward about debating Newsom. Sean Hannity interviewed Newsom in his first appearance on Fox News in 10 years on Tuesday, and Newsom committed to participating in a debate with DeSantis with Hannity as the moderator. DeSantis scoffed at the idea and expressed his confusion at Newsom’s “real serious fixation on the state of Florida.”
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“He’s got huge problems in his state — I mean, like, huge problems in his state. We all know that,” DeSantis said to a room of laughter. “I mean, California was probably the height of opportunity for middle-class Americans for many, many decades in this country. No one would leave there. You know, you would go, people were drawn to there, and yet he’s the first governor that’s overseen a massive exodus out of California.”
Ron DeSantis Press Conference
DeSantis was referring to a study by the National Association of Realtors that reported over 340,000 people moved out of California in 2022 alone. Meanwhile, more people are moving to Florida than ever before, with the state reporting the most migration in the nation in 2022. Its population increased by 1.9%, making it the top state for the first time since 1957.
California has seen a gradual increase in more of its residents moving out than those who move in since 2016, according to the National Movers Study. The move-out rate has dramatically increased in recent years following the coronavirus pandemic, during which Newsom enacted heavy restrictions on businesses and schools in an attempt to stop the virus from spreading.
Newsom, according to DeSantis, appears to be launching a shadow campaign for president, which is motivating him to confront DeSantis, who has already launched his own presidential campaign for 2024.
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“What I would tell him is, you know, what, stop pussyfooting around. Are you going to throw your hat in the ring and challenge Joe?” DeSantis said as his audience applauded. “Are you going to get in and do it, or are you just going to sit on the sidelines and chirp? So why don’t you throw your hat in the ring, and then we’ll go ahead and talk about what’s happening.”
DeSantis is facing former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, political commentator Larry Elder, businessman Perry Johnson, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy in the race to win the GOP presidential nomination. Meanwhile, author Marianne Williamson and environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have joined in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination against President Joe Biden.