TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis touted the growth of Florida during his State of the State address Tuesday morning, praising the work of the Legislature and vowing that "2024 is going to be a banner year for the free state of Florida."
The Republican governor, who is in the midst of a presidential campaign that begins next week with Tuesday's Iowa caucuses, spoke about the decay of cities throughout the country, the influx of illegal immigrants and the exodus of out-of-state residents who sought refuge in the Sunshine State "for freedom and sanity."
"These failures are not the result of chance," DeSantis said. "They are the result of choices made by elected officials to put ideology over sound policy. In this time for choosing, the state of Florida has chosen well. We have chosen facts over fear. We have chosen education over indoctrination. We have chosen law and order over rioting and disorder. We have chosen fiscal responsibility over debt and profligacy. Our choices have produced results that are second to none in this country."
DeSantis also boasted about the state's 50-year crime low and the lowest unemployment rate among all large states.
"My message is simple: stay the course," DeSantis said. "The state of our state is strong. Let's keep doing what works. Let's continue to make Florida the envy of the nation."