‘California Is Driving People Away’ With Newsom’s ‘Terrible Governance’ – Opinion

After California Governor Gavin Newsom targeted Florida Governor Ron DeSantis with a massive ad buy in Florida, claiming freedom was under attack in the state, DeSantis was asked by a reporter about Newsom’s campaign ad.

DeSantis pointed out that the population decline in California is due to “terrible governance,” referring to Newsom’s leadership. California’s population declined for the first-time in 2020. The state also experienced another decline in 2021. He said:

“When families are uprooting from the Pacific Coast to go almost 3,000 miles in search of a better life, that’s telling you something.”

DeSantis also hit back at Newsom’s claim that freedom is “under attack” in the Sunshine state.

“Yes, we’ve created a citadel of freedom here that has attracted people and we’re proud of it. But, let’s just be clear, California is driving people away with their terrible governance.”

California has the fifth-largest economy in the world, and due to Newsom’s inept leadership, the population has seen a decrease. Three counties that are the most populous saw their populations decline. California is not a poor place to live. But, the majority of California leaders lack competence, which is making it difficult for people to move away and vote. DeSantis continued:

“Some of the best weather in the world in southern California, they have some of the best natural advantages – probably the best natural advantages of any state in this country… And, for the entire history of California, they never lost population until this recent governor got into office … And, now they’re hemorrhaging population. It’s almost hard to drive people out of a place like California, given all their natural advantages. And yet, they’re finding a way to do it,” he joked, to a laughing crowd.  

DeSantis has the right idea. Living in California has more pros than cons, but when the leadership is ineffective and at times clueless, it’s difficult to praise the state. We have witnessed a mass exodus of Californians, despite gas prices exceeding six dollars per gallon in some California counties. This is due to inaction by the Governor and the Democratic supermajority assembly.

Newsom believed he would win this fight, while DeSantis refused to speak a word. However, when one state experiences a decline in its population and another sees an increase, Newsom ought to have realized that this fight isn’t something he wants.

DeSantis noted also that Florida has seen a lot more California license plates recently.

“I can just tell you this, I was born and raised in this state, and until the last few years I rarely if ever saw a California license plate in the state of Florida. These plates are everywhere. I can tell you if you go to California you ain’t seeing very many Florida license plates.”

DeSantis then spoke about Newsom’s COVID-19 lockdown hypocrisy:

“As he was locking down his citizens, he would then go and have these extravagant dinners at the French Laundry to basically rub his citizens’ noses in the fact that he was treating them like peasants.” 

Newsom has a tendency to look down on his constituents, rather than listen to them, and come up with solutions. California’s problems are getting worse under his leadership.

For those who haven’t seen it, here is Newsom’s ad:

We’re about to celebrate Independence Day — but Freedom is under attack by Republican leaders in states like Florida.

Banned books
Be strict with your speech
It is becoming more difficult to vote.
Criminalizing doctors and women.
 
It’s time to stand up. Don’t let them take your freedom. pic.twitter.com/cFI5UzgZzX

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 3, 2022

Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis have very little in common. DeSantis is more productive. Newsom only makes big, bold promises–and delivers the bare minimum.