Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis touted the success of his state, one that he described as embodying “true American principles,” as he thanked voters for handing him a “historic landslide victory.”
“Thank you for honoring us with a win for the ages,” DeSantis added.
According to Decision Desk HQ, DeSantis drew 59.1 percent of the vote compared to his Democratic challenger former Congressman Charlie Christ’s 40.3 percent, with more than 94 percent of the vote counted as of 11:15 p.m. ET.
The governor contrasted conditions in the Sunshine State with that of the other parts of the country under Democratic rule.
“We set out a vision we executed on that vision. And we produced historic results and the people of this state have responded in record fashion,” he said. “Now well our country flounders due to failed leadership in Washington, Florida is on the right track.
“I believe the survival of the American experiment requires a revival of true American principles. Florida has proved that it can be done. We offer a ray of hope that better days still lie ahead.”
DeSantis said while leftist politicians have discarded American principles, his administration has rejected the “woke” agenda, maintained law and order, and protected the rights of parents.
“We fight the woke in the legislature, we fight the woke in the schools, we fight the woke in the corporations, we will never ever surrender to the woke mob,” he said. “Florida is where woke goes to die.
“We chose facts over fear. We chose education over indoctrination. We chose law and order over rioting and disorder.”
The governor said he is proud of what his government has accomplished and Americans have been coming to Florida because the state’s policies work.
It was more than an election victory, DeSantis added, saying that “we have rewritten the political map.” He thanked voters in two historically Democrat strongholds—Miami-Dade County and Palm Beach County—for their support in his landslide victory.
DeSantis flipped Miami-Dade County, the first Republican to do so since Florida Gov. Jeb Bush won the area in South Florida in 2002. As of press time, the county’s voters cast more than 390,000 votes for DeSantis, 55.3 percent, compared to roughly 309,000 votes for Crist with 43.9 percent, according to local election officials.
In Palm Beach County, DeSantis secured more than 276,000 votes, or 51.4 percent, compared to Crist’s about 258,000 votes with 48.1 percent, according to local election officials.
“It’s clearly apparent that this election we will have garnered a significant number of votes from people who may not have voted for me four years ago,” he said. “I am honored to have earned your trust and your support over these four years.”
“Thank you for a historic landslide victory,” he said. “We’ve accomplished more than anybody thought possible four years ago, but we’ve got so much more to do and I have only begun to fight.
