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FIRST ON FOX: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday dropped a new campaign video targeting California and its Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, ahead of a two-day visit to the Golden State.
The video focuses on California’s leftist policies, arguing that it has led to an increase in crime, homelessness and a net outward migration out of the state.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a news conference at the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum in Titusville. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
A montage of news clips highlights these issues as DeSantis, a Republican contender in the 2024 presidential race, contrasts his philosophy of government with that of his Democratic counterpart in California.
“We have witnessed a major American exodus from states controlled by leftist politicians,” says DeSantis. “This is the result of better governance in states like Florida. It’s the result of poor governance in these leftist states. That’s why people are moving.”
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The video’s release comes as DeSantis heads to California to “see firsthand the disastrous results of liberal governance,” his campaign said in a statement.
Newsom, who is speculated to enter the race for the 2024 White House in a direct challenge to Biden, has pushed back the notion of California’s dwindling population.
Florida Governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis waves as he arrives for his campaign kickoff at Eternity Church in Clive, Iowa, on May 30, 2023. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
During an exclusive interview on “Hannity” last week, Newsom argued that, per capita, “more Floridians move to California than California moving to Florida.”
He further stated that 18 states across the country saw a dip in their populations as California’s decline was more than 0.3% – a first for the state.
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California lost 117,552 people between Jan. 1, 2021, and Jan. 1, 2022, according to the state’s Treasury Department, bringing its population back to 2016 levels.
In 2022, Florida saw the largest flow of new residents migrating from predominantly blue high-tax states, with about 319,000 Americans moving there, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. That equates to a population increase of almost 2% – well above the 0.4% national growth rate recorded in the US between July 2021 and July 2022.
FILE: California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks in Sacramento, California, January 10, 2023. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas, File)
Both governors have stepped up their war of words at each other in recent months. Newsom has particularly targeted DeSantis’ migration policies by threatening the Republican governor with kidnapping charges after a Florida-affiliated contractor flew migrants into Sacramento, California’s capital.
At a press conference on Thursday in Fort Pierce, Florida, DeSantis poked fun at Newsom for having a “fixation” on Florida and challenged the California Democrat to “quit the fuss” and enter the presidential race of 2024.
“I just think it’s bizarre that (Newsom) is doing that,” DeSantis said. “What I’d like to say to him is, ‘You know what, stop the fuss. Are you going to throw your hat in the ring and challenge Joe?'”
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“Do you go in and do it or do you just sit on the sidelines and chirp? Why don’t you throw your hat in the ring and we’ll move on and talk about what’s going on.’
FOX Business Alicia Warren contributed to this report.
Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues and much more.
