The Florida gubernatorial election has become the latest battleground as the incumbent governor, Ron DeSantis, faces off against his Democratic rival, California’s incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom. DeSantis’ campaign team has recently released a statement slamming Newsom’s “blueprint for failure” and outlining why their upcoming debate should be the biggest one yet.
The statement begins by targeting Newsom’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic in California. According to DeSantis’ campaign team, Newsom’s response has been inefficient and mismanaged. They point out that Newsom issued one of the nation’s first lockdown orders and that California still has one of the highest death tolls. Newsom’s initial decision to roll out the $75 million restaurant grant program has also come under fire, as the governor was accused of allowing his political allies to benefit from those funds.
The statement goes on to point out that while Florida’s death count is higher relative to its population than California, the Sunshine State has largely managed to contain the virus by making better use of face masks, testing, and contact tracing while encouraging Floridians to remain vigilant in following health protocols. In addition, the DeSantis campaign proudly highlights the state’s economic success. Despite the pandemic’s impact on the rest of the country, Florida’s unemployment rate is currently 4.9% and businesses are rapidly coming back.
Finally, DeSantis’ campaign explains why this election season’s upcoming debate should be the biggest one yet. The statement highlights the stark differences between the two candidates on economic issues. While Newsom is pushing for the expansion of California’s welfare state, DeSantis argues that this would lead to higher taxes and more government interference. Floridians will have to decide which candidate’s approach would be best for their state’s future.
The Florida gubernatorial election will be a closely watched contest in the weeks ahead and the October 29th debate between the two candidates will be key in swaying undecided voters. While DeSantis does not plan to sit idly by, his campaign team’s recent statement has already made their case clear. By tackling California’s coronavirus mismanagement and the economic success of the Sunshine State, DeSantis has put his stake in the ground. Who Floridians will eventually vote for is yet to be seen but this election is going to be an exciting one to watch.