Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, R, won re-election, giving him four more years in the governor’s mansion and a springboard to a possible 2024 presidential run. DeSantis defeated former Gov. and current Rep. Charlie Crist, D, who was seen as a candidate who could win over independent voters because he used to be a Republican.
Crist called on DeSantis to confirm he would serve a full four-year term if he won re-election, rather than run for president in two years.
“The only worn out old donkey I’m looking to put out to pasture is Charlie Crist,” DeSantis responded at their final debate.
The governor has his work cut out. The state is still recovering from Hurricane Ian. Based on previous natural disasters, that recovery will take the Naples and the Fort Myers area years to fully build back from and cost billions.
Campaigning was brought to a screeching halt in the final days of September when the hurricane hit as a Category 4, bringing 155 mph winds and a deadly storm surge that measured 12 feet in some areas. More than 100 people died.
The storm gave a boost to DeSantis’ profile as he coordinated response efforts among the local, state and federal governments. He even received a rare compliment from President Joe Biden.
“I think he’s done a good job,” President Biden said. “We have very different political philosophies, but we’ve worked hand in glove.”
It was an extraordinary turn compared to two weeks prior when Biden called DeSantis’ decision to fly immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard “un-American” and “reckless.” Desantis said it wasn’t fair for Texas communities to care for an overwhelming number of migrants and that northern communities should share the burden. A criminal investigation was opened in Bexar County, Texas, to see if migrants were misled about the benefits they could receive for boarding the plane and if the immigrants thought they were going to other cities, not Martha’s Vineyard.
Crist meanwhile criticized DeSantis’ response to the hurricane, and after visiting the disaster zone, he went on a statewide bus tour to meet with Florida voters and collect supplies for the recovery.
Crist also came out with a seven-point plan to fix Florida’s property insurance premiums, calling DeSantis the worst property insurance governor in Florida history who saw premiums double under his watch.
As for the money, DeSantis had an extraordinary financial advantage. The governor broke a gubernatorial fundraising record when it was revealed that he had brought in $177.4 million by Sept. 9, according to OpenSecrets.org. Meanwhile Crist had raised $20 million by the same date.
