California Gov. Gavin Newsom launched a Golden State verbal attack on Florida this Monday, releasing an ad urging Sunshine State residents fed up with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to pack their flip-flops and head west.
Newsom bought $105,000 worth of spots that began airing on Fox News in Florida, spurring chatter about a potential 2024 presidential run, especially if Joe Biden opts not to seek a second term.
The ads also cranked up the temperature on the nation’s fiercest gubernatorial rivalry.
While the ad doesn’t mention DeSantis by name, his picture flashes on the screen during the video. Newsom also takes aim at several of the Florida conservative’s signature legislative accomplishments.
“It’s Independence Day,” Newsom tells the camera while clad in a white dress shirt and standing in a lushly landscaped backyard. “So let’s talk about what’s going on in America.”
The ad then cuts to an ominously distorted image of DeSantis, himself a potential 2024 White House contender, and former President Donald Trump.
“Freedom is under attack in your state,” Newsom says. “Republican leaders, they are banning books. Making it harder to vote. Restricting speech in classrooms. Even criminalizing women and doctors.”
The California governor was referring to Florida’s ban on critical race theory in classrooms, prohibition of instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity for kids in kindergarten through the fourth grade and the state’s 15-week abortion ban.
With an image of California’s beaches in the background, Newsom encourages Floridians to make the move out west and help him fight the GOP.
“I urge all of you living in Florida to join the fight,” Newsom states. “Or join us in California where we still believe in freedom.”
DeSantis’ aides wasted little time in returning fire.
Florida Department of Health spokesman Jeremy Redfern tweeted out a squalid quartet of pictures showing various California homeless encampments and a trash-strewn beach.
“Shouldn’t you be worried about California?” he wrote.
DeSantis’s reelection campaign also mocked Newsom’s attempted relocation drive.
“Gavin Newsom might as well light a pile of cash on fire,” said campaign spokesman Dave Abrams in a statement. “Pass the popcorn for his desperate attempt to win back the California refugees who fled the hellhole he created in his state to come to Florida.”
Newsom has intensified his attacks on DeSantis and the GOP in recent months, positioning himself as a culture war field general.
“I do not look for inspiration from that particular governor,” Newsom said of his Florida counterpart in March while belittling his outspoken manner as theater.
DeSantis has been equally vigorous in denouncing Newsom and his stewardship of California. “Yes, there’s a lot of Californians who like what we’re doing who are coming, but even the ones that posture against Florida typically find their way here,” DeSantis said
California’s Department of Finance reported in May that the state’s population shrank by 117,552 in 2021 following a larger decline by 182,083 in 2020. Meanwhile, census data shows that Florida’s population grew by 211,000 between July 2020 and July 2021.
Funny I don’t hear of people moving IN to California, but just the opposite for people and businesses! On the other
hand, people ARE moving IN to Florida! Oh well, let Newsom waste more of California’s money since they seem to
have an abundance, as opposed to water, electricity, heat, etc…Did Auntie Nancy help you survive your recall? Gov.
DeSantis hasn’t even been rumored to be in trouble, which may explain Gavin’s envy.
DOES NEWSOM REALLY BELIEVE THE GOOD PEOPLE OF FLORIDA ARE THAT STUPID? CALIFORNIA? FREEDOM? THAT’S AN OXYMORON. HOW ARROGANT TO EVEN THINK HE COULD MAKE THIS COMMERCIAL AND EXPECT THE GOOD PEOPLE OF FLORIDA TO AGREE WITH ANYTHING THIS CLOWN SAYS ABOUT CALIFORNIA, THE MOST LIBERAL SOCIALIST ILLEGAL ALIEN OVERRUN STATE IN THE UNION. BWAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA…PATHETIC!!!
I think the guy living in the CA governor’s mansion is confusing July 4th with April 1st. There’s no other explanation for this joke, and another great example of having no regard for tax payer’s money.
This is a guy.who wants CA to be the abortion capital of the world. Talk about out of touch with family values.
Anybody that Newsom can convince to come to California, the good people of Florida will be happy they are gone, good riddance.
Since I have lived in both California and Florida in the past 10 years, I have some real life experience. Everything in California costs more. Everything in Florida costs less. What possible reason can he give anyone to swap with the facts against him? Who knows if Nuisance has ever spent time in Florida? I have to think he is full of Male Bovine Fecal Matter, and just wasting our money with his stupid ad.
Gavin you drove people out of your state now you want them back. Florida has no sales tax, people just may like that. People left because they can’t afford to live in your state anymore. Looks like your losing Chevron industry our now, they are reading to Texas. It is just a matter of time the only people left in Ca. will be illegals and the Hollywood elite and those elite will get sick and tired of picking up paying most of the taxes that California demands. I have family county the days to retire and get the heck out of Ca. some already had left to greener pastures.
Come to California where you will be taxed to death, have to wear a mask to bed, probably get car jacked and mugged, while walking down the street, trying to avoid stepping in shit. Then comes the second weak !
There’s a variety of reasons why people leave California for states like Florida and Texas… Newsom is just one of them!
Newsom talks like somebody with a paper Asshole
Nuisance is just as stupid as the rest of the far left socialist congress people we have in office. When will true Americans stand up and throw these idiots out of the front door?
This ass hole is as” crooked as a barrel of snakes” (Ordell Robie – Jackie Brown)
I can’t believe he’s not in prison. He’s a liar, a theif and a true scum bag, but as long as the moron’s in California put up with his lying ass, we will contine to hear from him. The media loves him, mostly because the media is corrupt, just like this ass.