TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants to look into the idea of holding a separate election for proposed constitutional amendments. DeSantis said this would be a way to declutter the ballot and allow voters to focus on ballot proposals. “If we’re going to do these amendments, maybe have those be stand-alone elections,” DeSantis said during a Jacksonville event. “Maybe it would cost a little more money for the state, but at least people would know when they’re going, that’s the reason I’m going.” DeSantis was responding to a reporter’s question about a bill the governor signed last week that places hurdles on petition drives seeking to change the constitution. He defended the new law, which requires paid petition gatherers to register with the secretary of state, outlaws paying gatherers based on the number of signatures they collect and imposes fines if petitions aren’t turned in within 30 days. DeSantis also said he wants to do more to change the process of amending the constitution. One reason to hold a separate election for constitutional amendments would be to shorten general election ballots, he said. “You know we’re going to vote for the presidential, you’re going to vote for Congress, state Senate, state House, all these other offices. Then you’ve got judges. And how many amendments did we have last time?” DeSantis said. Florida had 12 amendments on the ballot last year, 11 of which passed. They included seven questions placed on the ballot by the Constitution Revision Commission, which meets every 20 years to suggest changes to the constitution. A bill died during this year’s legislative session that would have asked voters to abolish the commission, an idea DeSantis wants to continue pursuing. Part of his criticism is that the commission bundled different topics. Five of the commission’s proposals contained more than one subject, such as one that banned oil drilling in state waters and added vaping to the state’s indoor smoking ban. “To put all those amendments on when you have two or three different subjects in one amendment, I thought it was a joke. And voters are fatigued with this. The ballots are too long,” DeSantis said. “I’ve had voters who are way smarter than me say they didn’t understand some of these amendments.”   Source: CBS Miami

CHRIS URSO | Times Florida Governor elect Ron DeSantis along with his wife Casey wave to the crowd Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018 in Orlando. DeSantis defeated Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum. Nine days after Election Day, and one machine recount later, it is all but official: Ron DeSantis is Florida's next governor. The results of the statewide machine recount which rolled by the Thursday 3 p.m. deadline, solidified what most already knew, as DeSantis has already made himself busy with transitioning to power and creating a new government. In the governor's race, it was an anticlimactic finish to the dramatic machine recount — plagued with technical issues and an avalanche of lawsuits — with almost no change in the margin between DeSantis and his Democratic opponent, Andrew Gillum, since this weekend. Still, about 0.41 percentage points separate the two candidates, or just under 34,000 votes. Just after the results were released, DeSantis sent a statement to reporters declaring victory — once again. "I remain humbled by your support and the great honor the people of Florida have shown me as I prepare to serve as your next governor," his statement read, striking a more conciliatory tone than the confrontational-approach he used in the campaign. He said the campaign must now end so it can "give way to governing and bringing people together to secure Florida's future. With the campaign now over, that's where all of my focus will be. "And, to this end, I invite Mayor Gillum to join me in the days ahead in a conversation about the future of our great state." Unlike the races for U.S. Senate and commissioner of agriculture, DeSantis' margin of victory is not slim enough to proceed to a manual recount, which requires the race to be within one-fourth of a percentage point. That means Thursday is the end of the road, and barring a lawsuit that demands a change in procedure, the governor's race's official results will likely be submitted by the counties on Sunday and will likely be officially certified on Tuesday, Nov. 20. Despite the fact that DeSantis still had about 34,000 more votes than Gillum, over the weekend, the fact that the race's margin slimmed to less than half a percentage point after Election Night triggered an automatic machine recount and left a haze of uncertainty over the results. Those question marks have fueled some last-ditch hope in Gillum's supporters who've been spotted sparring with pro-DeSantis protesters – including U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz – outside the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office, and who've given Gillum hearty receptions at several post-election events. At these appearances, Gillum has continued to call for every vote to be counted, invoking a chance he could still be victorious while also preparing his supporters to stay engaged if he loses. "I wanted so bad, and still want so bad, for us to be able to make a combined impact on this state and I'm trusting that we're going to have that opportunity," Gillum told a church filled with supporters in Orlando on Tuesday. "Once we get beyond this election, whatever the outcome may be, we will have to commit ourselves to an improved and a better democracy." Once the results of the machine recount were submitted Thursday afternoon, Gillum issued an ambiguous statement saying, "It is not over until every legally casted vote is counted." Meanwhile, DeSantis has posted several quick videos that have depicted him as a governor-elect, as he spoke in front of a velvet backdrop flanked by flags or in the state Capitol building, giving broad updates on the transition. "We're hard at work and if you want to work for the administration, if you have something to offer, send us your resume," he said at the end of his most recent video, posted Monday. That day, the team opened their transition office in Tallahassee and began the long work of recruiting new hires for both the governor's office and for the state agencies. Also on Monday, DeSantis' team announced its first round of hires to fill out the transition's staff since its core leaders were announced. One of the most notable is James Blair, the transition's director of policy, who helped lead House Speaker Richard Corcoran's pseudo-campaign for governor that never materialized. Taylor Budowich, who ran communications for that campaign as well, also has an official DeSantis transition email account, according to records obtained by the Times/Herald. After first endorsing DeSantis' Republican opponent, Adam Putnam, in the primary, Corcoran joined DeSantis' ranks in the general election and is now helping lead the transition. His official role, in addition to his former campaign workers joining the efforts, ensures the fiery, outgoing speaker with a reputation for strong-arming policies through the Legislature will play a major role in DeSantis' setup and perhaps in the administration. Several other recent hires are holdovers from the campaign, such as Dave Vasquez, the press secretary, and Claire Whitehead, who traveled with Casey DeSantis on the campaign trail and has now been hired as the incoming first lady's assistant. Meanwhile, other additions formerly worked for other DeSantis political allies, such as a former advisor to Gov. Jeb Bush, Chris Clark; staff assistant of Sen. Marco Rubio, Amanda Emmons; and a lawyer who used to work for Gov. Rick Scott, Ben Gibson.

As a Floridian who cares about the future of our state, I want Florida to continue Governor Scott’s success on economic growth and on safety. Over the last eight years, I have personally observed Governor Rick Scott’s outstanding achievements in creating economic prosperity for Floridians. Very important to Asian American communities, we have had very safe neighborhoods. Unlike a few other states where Asian American small businesses suffered badly from robberies and other crimes, Florida provides a safe environment for our small businesses. Florida is on the right path. We do not want to change course by Mr. Andrew Gillum who is not tough on crime and not pro-business. Rep. Ron DeSantis is the only candidate who can continue economic prosperity and safety in Floridians.     As the first generation immigrants from China, I have first-hand knowledge about how socialism failed miserably to Chinese people. To avoid such disasters from happening in Florida, we cannot vote for Mr. Gillum. His socialist ideology is likely to stifle individual creativities of Floridians and make Florida another Venezuela. We cannot let it happen!    As an Asian American, I care dearly about our children’s education. We cannot vote for Mr. Gillum because he will roll back student performance tests which are essential to our children’s educational quality. Equally important, we need a governor who will continue support of equal education rights in college admissions in Florida, just like what Governor Jeb Bush did. Only Rep. DeSantis, a true conservative, can safeguard that.   As a Florida resident and a community leader who has been fighting for Asian American children’s equal education rights for years, I hereby call upon all Asian Americans in Florida vote for Ron DeSantis for Florida Governor. He will continue Governor Scott’s success in Florida and support Asian American children’s equal education rights!   Sincerely, Yukong Zhao   Note: Mr. Yukong Zhao serves as the President of Asian American Coalition for Education, the proven leader in fighting for Asian-American children’s equal education rights.

 Captions:The chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida, Mr. DeSantis, for five minutes.Mr. Speaker, the shooting in parkland Florida on 14 February, represented a catastrophic failure of local authorities as well as the FBI. The students needed a hero that day and while the Sheriff's Department failed the students. I think it's important to recognize and commemorate the fact that a 15-year old J ROTC cadet named Peter Wang answered the call. In the face of a deranged gunman descending on his school, cadet Wang helped his fellow students flee to safety, exposing himself to fire in the process. He could have simply saved himself but like a true hero, Peter Wang chose to protect the lives of others. Going above and beyond the call of duty, he sacrificed his life on that fateful day. Now, scripture teaches that there's no greater love than that a man should lay down his life for his friends, and his fellow students will be indebted to Peter Wang for his actions on that day. Now Peter Wang had a desire to attend West Point and his actions on 14 February, more than lived up to the US Military Academy's motto of duty, honor and country. His posthumous admittance to West Point represented a rare but well-deserved honor. In Peter Wang, the country lost someone who no doubt would have enriched the Army's officer corps and provided honorable service in uniform. Yet it is also true that with the lives he saved that day, he accomplished more on his final day on this earth than most of us who serve in the military accomplish over the course of an entire career. You can train for moments like those faced by Peter Wang. You don't know if you can pass the test until you're actually put to the test. Peter Wang passed his test with flying colors. His steadfast devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army. Rest in Peace, Soldier. Job well done. I yield back.

Orlando, Fla. – In case you missed it, Casey DeSantis, wife of Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Ron DeSantis, sat down with First Coast News for a one-on-one interview. During the segment, she discussed her career in television, how she met her husband, and the life of a wife and mother on the campaign trail. Watch the full video of Casey DeSantis' one-on-one interview with First Coast News: https://youtu.be/87oZRugoCCE

Boca Raton  Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 4:00 PM 5355 Town Center Road, Suite 204 Miami Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 6:00 PM 13011 SW 112th St.  Coral Springs Sunday, October 28, 2018 at 12:00 PM 9880 W Sample Road, Coral Springs More      

Ron DeSantis Andrew Gillum   Polling Data TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- A recent survey of 800 likely voters in Florida shows that many of the races in the upcoming November election are still too close to call. The survey, conducted for Gray Television by Strategic Research Associates, LLC, collected results from October 16 through 23. The margin of error for the full sample is +/- 3.46%. Here's a breakdown of the results: Governor's Race The state’s high-pro?le race for governor is within the margin of error, showing Republican Ron DeSantis leading Democrat Andrew Gillum 48% to 45%. 79% of DeSantis’ supporters say that their vote is decided, or that they probably won’t change their mind, compared with 87% of Gillum supporters. Gillum is viewed favorably by 40% of likely voters and unfavorably by 35%, with 13% holding a neutral opinion and 11% still unfamiliar. DeSantis is viewed favorably by 43% and unfavorably by 39%, with 9% holding a neutral opinion and 10% unfamiliar.  

Join Ron DeSantis and special guest, Vice President Mike Pence for a GOTV Event in Jacksonville on Thursday, October 25. They need YOU in Jacksonville to help bring home a BIG win on Election Day. Doors open at 1:15 PM. No attendees will be allowed into the venue after 3:15 PM.WhenThursday, October 25, 20181:15 PM ¨C 5:00 PM EDTWherePrime F. Osborn III Convention Center1000 Water StreetJacksonville, FL 32204            Paid by Ron DeSantis, Republican, for Governor301 W. Platt Street, Suite 438 Tampa, FL 33606

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will headline a Make America Great Again rally in the Fort Myers area on Oct. 31 to help Florida Republicans, including GOP gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis, in the final days before the election, his campaign announced Wednesday. Trump had been widely expected to make another appearance in Florida before Election Day to help DeSantis, who won the primary after a presidential endorsement and faces an unexpected opponent, liberal Democrat Andrew Gillum. The race has attracted attention on both sides — former President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton have all endorsed Gillum and major donors from both parties are contributing vast amounts of money to the race. DeSantis has tied himself to Trump throughout the race, gambling that the connection will pay off in a state the president narrowly won in 2016. DeSantis’s campaign issued a brief statement saying he was “looking forward” to the event. It’s unclear whether Scott, who says he is focused on hurricane recovery, will attend Trump’s rally, which will be in the conservative southwest part of the swing state. “We will keep everyone updated on any changes to the campaign schedule,” Scott campaign spokeswoman Lauren Schenone said. Trump has been headlining boisterous Make America Great Again rallies several times a week in states that backed him in 2016, including North Dakota, Missouri and Arizona, trying to boost Republican candidates next month. He estimates that a third of rally attendees are not traditional Republican votes, according to someone familiar with his strategy. He plans to headline at least 10 more rallies before Election Day, according to his re-election campaign. He will hold rallies this week in Mosinee, Wisconsin on Wednesday, Charlotte on Friday and Murphysboro, Illinois on Saturday. Trump has hosted 37 rallies since he came in office in January 2017. Trump didn’t know DeSantis well — though he did endorse him when he first ran for Congress in 2012 — but was impressed with him after watching him appear frequently on FOX News supporting the president’s agenda, aides say. The president endorsed him on Twitter after the two shared a flight together on Air Force One to a rally in Pensacola. Adam Putnam, the state’s agriculture commissioner and establishment Republican candidate. was leading until Trump’s tweeted his support and appeared at a rally with DeSantis in Tampa. Trump’s campaign also will launch a $6 million national TV and digital advertising campaign Monday that will run through Election Day. “President Trump is all-in for the midterms to lead the GOP to victory on Election Day,” Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a statement. “His winning spirit is energizing Americans across the country to get out the vote and keep the momentum of our America First agenda going strong.”  

Under Governor Rick Scott, Florida has seen unbelievable economic growth. Governor Scott’s commitment to free-market, conservative principles has resulted in the addition of 1.6 million new jobs, a state GDP that topped $1 trillion earlier this year, and a reduction in Florida’s debt by more than $10 billion. As Governor, Ron DeSantis will continue to build off of Governor Scott’s economic success and take Florida’s economy to new heights for the benefit of all Floridians. Ron believes government should work within its budget as opposed to taking more and more money from Floridians’ pockets. He has pledged to veto any legislation that will raise taxes and will work to make Florida the best state in the nation to start a business and raise a family. Compare that to Andrew Gillum, who has proposed tax hikes and economic policies that would set Florida’s economic growth back decades. From Gillum’s 40% tax increase, to his government-mandated $15 minimum wage proposals, Florida would quickly become a high-tax and low-growth state. Florida cannot afford Andrew Gillum. He would only cripple the economic growth that helps Florida businesses and families prosper. Florida Ranked 4th Best Business Tax Climate, 1st for Individual Income Taxes. “The Ron DeSantis for Governor Campaign today highlighted The Tax Foundation’s 2019 Rankings showcasing Florida’s economy is working. According to the Tax Foundation’s annual State Business Tax Climate Index, Florida has the fourth best business tax climate in the country, and is the No. 1 best climate for individual taxes.” (Press Release, “Tax Foundation’s 2019 Rankings Show Florida’s Economy is Working,” DeSantis Nuñez for Governor, 10/2/2018). Florida’s Economy Passes $1 Trillion Mark. “Florida may seem like another country sometimes with its wacky ‘Florida man’ stories and uniquely-Florida crimes, but it’s like another country in a new way as of today — its economic clout. Florida’s economy topped $1 trillion Friday, meaning that if Florida was its own nation, it would have the 17th-largest economy in the world.” (Malena Carollo, “Florida’s economy passes $1 trillion mark Friday,” Tampa Bay Times, 7/13/2018). Gov. Scott’s Administration Saw 1.6 Million New Jobs Created, Debt Reduction of $10 Billion. “Since Governor Scott took office, Florida has experienced an incredible economic turnaround, including: Florida’s businesses have added more than 1.55 million new private sector jobs since December 2010; Taxes in Florida have been cut nearly 100 times, saving families and businesses more than $10 BILLION; Florida’s unemployment has dropped from 11.2 percent to just 3.8 percent; and Florida has paid down by more than $10 billion in state debt.” (Press Release, “Gov. Scott: State Debt Reduced by More Than $10 Billion,” Executive Office of Gov. Rick Scott, 8/13/2018).

A Florida native, Ron DeSantis understands our state’s on-of-a-kind natural environment and the importance of protecting it. Ron is the only candidate for Governor who will work with the President and Congress to expedite the completion of the reservoir, stop toxic algae discharges and combat red tide. His experience in Congress and his unique relationship with the President will help him fight to ensure that we never allow off-shore oil drilling off Florida’s coasts. The Everglades Trust, in their endorsement of Ron, called him a “hero” that the Everglades and Florida’s coastal estuaries need. In election cycles full of “rhetoric and broken promises,” Ron is the only candidate who has “actually walked the walk” when it comes to standing up for the environment and against special interests. Kimberly Mitchell, executive director of the Everglades Trust, said that the millions of people who depend on a healthy Everglades, “and all the critters who call them home,” now have a champion in Ron DeSantis and “it could not have come soon enough.” When it comes to partnering with the Federal government to protect Florida’s environment, Ron DeSantis is the clear choice for Governor. Ron DeSantis Will End Drilling Off of Florida’s Coastlines. “Fight to Prevent Oil Drilling off Florida’s Coast: Our coast is one of the most important economic drivers of Florida and Ron DeSantis has a proven track record in supporting measures to ban offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Florida has seen firsthand the dangers that off-shore drilling can bring to our beaches and shorelines. Starting day one, DeSantis will utilize his unique relationship with President Trump and his administration to ensure that oil drilling never occurs off Florida’s coastlines.” (“Environment,” Ron DeSantis for Governor) Ron DeSantis Will Work With Trump Administration and Congress to Unlock Funding for Everglades Restoration and Lake Okeechobee Reservoir Construction. “Beginning day one, DeSantis will work with the Trump administration and Congress to ensure the federal government honors its 20-year old funding promise to CERP by appropriating its $200 million in matching federal dollars to build the Southern Reservoir and complete the entire suite of projects. The 120-billion-gallon reservoir will be built primarily on state land and will serve as a dynamic storage system discharging clean water into Everglades National Park and then into the Florida Bay. Ron DeSantis understands that fulfilling the promises of Everglades restoration is a critical investment in protecting our natural resources, creating jobs, and enhancing a lifestyle for millions of residents and visitors to Florida. The entire inventory of projects approved for Lake Okeechobee would reduce discharges by almost 63%.” (“Environment,” Ron DeSantis for Governor) Andrew Gillum Calls for President Trump’s Impeachment. “Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum called for President Donald Trump’s impeachment Friday ahead of Trump’s visit to the Florida Panhandle…‘Donald Trump should be impeached now,’ Gillum said in the video.” (Kirby Wilson, “Andrew Gillum: ‘Donald Trump should be impeached now’,” Tampa Bay Times, 12/8/2017) Everglades Trust Endorses Ron DeSantis. “‘The Everglades and coastal estuaries couldn’t care less about partisan politics, so the Trust doesn’t. They are in desperate need of a hero – and they found one in Ron DeSantis,’ said Everglades Trust Executive Director Kimberly Mitchell. ‘Ron understands the critical infrastructure projects that must be undertaken and expedited, with the ability to make them a top priority, and already has a track record of standing up to an industry that is physically and politically blocking the reconnection of Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades – Big Sugar. Floridians have had enough of rhetoric and broken promises from our politicians. ‘I will stand up to the special interests,’ is what we’re told in an election year. Well, we now have a politician who has actually walked the walk and for the millions who depend on a healthy Everglades, and all the critters who call them home, it could not come soon enough.’” (Adam Smith, “Everglades Trust endorses Ron DeSantis over Andrew Gillum,” Tampa Bay Times, 10/17/2018).

Andrew Gillum supports policies that would allow sanctuary cities to pop up all over the state. He would refuse to enforce cooperation with federal authorities, and even has gone so far as to call for the abolishment of ICE. Compare this to Ron DeSantis, who will support ICE, ban sanctuary cities, and implement E-Verify to keep Florida safe by ensuring that laws are followed and dangerous criminals are not allowed back on the streets. Ron will enforce federal immigrations laws and punish local officials that refuse to cooperate with the immigration laws of this country. There will be no “sanctuary cities” in Florida under Ron DeSantis. Ron DeSantis is only one candidate who will keep Florida safe and protect the rule of law. Andrew Gillum’s reckless disregard for federal laws would put illegal immigrants ahead of the safety of Florida’s families. Andrew Gillum Would Allow Local Governments to Refuse to Cooperate with Federal Immigration Authorities. “The five Democrats in the crowded primary field of Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, former U.S. Rep Gwen Graham, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, Orlando real estate investor Chris King and Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene all oppose state interference in a local jurisdiction’s desire to become a sanctuary city.” (Ana Ceballo and James Call, “Florida candidates for governor vow changes on immigration,” USA Today Network via Naples Daily News, 6/29/2018 updated 7/1/2018) Andrew Gillum Would Allow Sanctuary Cities, Supports Cities that Won’t Cooperate with Federal Immigration Authorities. “As mayor of Tallahassee, Gillum criticized Trump’s executive order threatening to suspend funding to sanctuary cities, and Gillum’s campaign said as governor he would support an approach like in Tallahassee that emphasizes immigration enforcement as a federal responsibility, not a local one.” (Allison Graves, “Does Andrew Gillum want to make Florida a Sanctuary State?” PolitiFact Florida, 12/6/2017) Andrew Gillum Calls for Abolishment of I.C.E. “Gillum is the first Democratic candidate for governor in Florida to join calls on the left to ‘abolish ICE,’ though his Democratic rivals all agree the Immigration and Customs Enforcement needs reform…Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee who has recently been bolstered by large contributions from liberal billionaires Tom Steyer and George Soros, said in a statement, ‘I support a comprehensive immigration overhaul that includes abolishment of ICE in its current form to be replaced with a more compassionate and focused agency that actually keeps us safer.’” (Steven Lemongello, “Andrew Gillum: Abolish ICE ‘in its current form’,” Orlando Sentinel, 7/5/2018)

Dozens of Law enforcement officers across the state know Ron DeSantis is Florida’s best choice to serve as Governor. Ron has been endorsed by the Florida Police Benevolent Association, the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association, the Florida Association of State Troopers, and 30 county Sheriffs from across Florida. Throughout Ron’s career, he has had a proven, unwavering commitment to standing with law enforcement during his time in the military, as a federal prosecutor and in Congress. Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum, on the other hand, is a strong supporter of the radical, anti-police group, the Dream Defenders. He signed a pledge to divert resources away from police and supports their radical ideology that police have no place in our justice system. Andrew Gillum’s support of this group’s anti-police policies puts a target on the back of law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep Florida’s communities safe. His stances are simply too dangerous for our state. The choice is clear. Ron DeSantis is the only candidate who will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the brave men and women of Florida’s law enforcement. Florida Police Benevolent Association Endorses Ron DeSantis. “A major union for police officers, the Florida Police Benevolent Association, is endorsing Republican Ron DeSantis for governor.” (Anthony Man, “Police union endorses Republican Ron DeSantis for Governor – four years after endorsing Democrat,” Sun Sentinel, 10/3/2018). Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association Endorses Ron DeSantis. “About 85 percent of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association voted to endorse DeSantis, who faces Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum.” (Skyler Swisher, “Broward deputies union endorses Ron DeSantis for governor,” Sun Sentinel, 10/10/2018). Dream Defenders Endorse Andrew Gillum. “Nevertheless, there is one candidate whose progressive platform for Florida creates much more favorable conditions for our movement and our people. That candidate is Mayor Andrew Gillum. So, it is with a vision for the betterment of our lives and an understanding of the necessary short term strategic decisions that we must make to get us there, that we excitedly announce our endorsement of Mayor Andrew Gillum for the next Governor of Florida.” (Dream Defenders, Press Release: Endorsement of Andrew Gillum) Dream Defenders Say That “Police and Prisons Have No Place in Justice. “Dream Defenders touts a mission statement in the form of ‘Freedom Papers’ stressing ‘police and prisons have no place in ‘justice,’ ‘ while calling for an ‘absolute right’ to fully-funded free public education.” (Aaron Klein, “Andrew Gillum Aided Movement that Laments Independence Day, Demands End to ‘Disaster Capitalism’,” Breitbart, 9/17/2018) Dream Defenders Pledge On Divesting From Police. “I will fight for a Florida that divests from prisons, detention centers, guns and police and invests in the basic needs and safety of its people, especially its children. I will fight for a reallocation of our state budget from police and prisons to good food, affordable housing, quality healthcare and public education.” (Dream Defenders Freedom Pledge)

Andrew Gillum is too corrupt for Florida. He has taken trips to New York and Costa Rica with developers and lobbyists who then benefited from millions of dollars of taxpayer-funded that Gillum voted to award. The vacations are even the subject of an FBI investigation and several ethics complaints. Of course, Andrew Gillum swears he paid for the trips himself, but receipts released by his campaign proved otherwise. One target of the investigation, Adam Corey, is a longtime friend and Gillum’s former campaign treasurer. Corey received millions to build an upscale restaurant, and the two of them have even taken trips with undercover FBI agents. Ron DeSantis has a record of accountability, and has fought wasteful spending. As Governor, Ron DeSantis will ensure that Florida works for all, not just for the politically connected. Receipts Released by Gillum Campaign Fail to Prove Who Paid for Trips, Excursions. “Mayor Andrew Gillum released travel receipts Tuesday for personal trips he took to New York City and Costa Rica that are under investigation by the Florida Commission on Ethics. But the early evening document drop by Gillum’s campaign for governor was more remarkable for what it didn’t include — receipts from any of the New York outings he took in August 2016 with his former friend, lobbyist Adam Corey, his brother, Marcus Gillum and two undercover FBI agents. There was nothing to show who paid for his tickets to ‘Hamilton’ or his stay at the Millennium Hotel or who exactly arranged a boat outing to the Statue of Liberty.” (Jeff Burlew and Jeffrey Schweers, “Andrew Gillum’s receipts for New York and Costa Rica trips leave unanswered questions,” Tallahassee Democrat, 9/4/2018 updated 9/5/2018) Andrew Gillum Voted to Give Millions in Taxpayer-Funded Grants to a Friend and Political Ally. “Corey was a longtime college friend of Mayor Andrew Gillum and served as his volunteer campaign manager in 2014, before Gillum’s current bid for governor.” “Corey, the Edison and Cascades Holdings LLC, which received $2.1 million in local tax dollars to help renovate the old electrical building in Cascades Park, were among the people and companies listed in the first round of subpoenas.” (Jeffrey Schweers, “City slapped with new FBI subpoena on Edison, Adam Corey,” Tallahassee Democrat, 5/31/2018 updated 6/1/2018) Targets of the FBI’s Corruption Probe Have Donated to Gillum’s Campaigns. “The latest strike? The DeSantis campaign is calling on Andrew Gillum to return more than $75,000 in campaign donations from those who’ve been subpoenaed in the course of the more-than-three-year-long investigation into Tallahassee’s city government. ‘Records show that Gillum has received contributions from 36 of the 40 named subjects of the FBI investigation,’ Stephen Lawson, DeSantis’ communications director said. ‘These new facts continue to link Andrew Gillum to the FBI’s investigation.’” (Danny Mcauliffe, “Ron DeSantis hits Andrew Gillum on donors subpoenaed by FBI,” Florida Politics, 10/1/2018)

After Andrew Gillum and Tallahassee city officials repeatedly denied the police’s request for help, violent crime skyrocketed and the average murder rate rose 52%. Since that time, Tallahassee has been named the most violent city in Florida for the last four years in a row. The most recent numbers show an 83% rise in the number of murders in Tallahassee in 2017. In fact, Forbes ranked Tallahassee as one of the most dangerous cities in the entire country. Even Gillum’s former chief of staff has campaigned on fixing the massive crime problem. Ron DeSantis will ensure the brave men and women of Florida’s law enforcement have the resources they need to keep our communities safe. He has been endorsed by 30 county Sheriffs across Florida, the Florida Association of State Troopers (FAST), the Police Benevolent Association, and the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association because they know Ron will have their back. It is clear Andrew Gillum would rather wait until the crime problem becomes too large to ignore before addressing the problem. An 83% spike in murders plus the most dangerous city in Florida equates to a failed record Floridians simply can’t ignore. Florida needs proactive leadership focused on keeping our communities safe and criminals off our streets. Ron DeSantis is ready to lead on Day One. Andrew Gillum Ignores Pleas From Police to Tackle Tallahassee’s Rising Crime. “From 2009 to 2013, public documents show that when gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum served on the Tallahassee City Commission, the Tallahassee City Commission repeatedly ignored pleas from law enforcement for help with a festering crime problem. Gillum served as a city commissioner from 2003 to 2014 and was elected mayor in 2014.” (Steve Stewart, “Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee City Commission Ignored Pleas from Police; Murder Rate Increased 52%,” Tallahassee Reports, 9/4/2018) Tallahassee Ranked in Top Ten Dangerous Cities in America. “Forbes Magazine has ranked Tallahassee among the top ten as one of America’s most dangerous cities to live in. But, as Sascha Cordner reports, Tallahassee’s Police Chief rebukes the distinction. According to a Forbes Magazine article published earlier this week, Florida’s Capitol city is ranked number eight as one of the most dangerous cities to live in the United States…The rankings were based on a FBI Uniform crime report that compared the amount of violent crimes in metropolitan areas around the country.” (Sasha Cordner, “Magazine ranks Tallahassee as dangerous place to live; TPD Chief unhappy,” WFSU) Number of Murders in Tallahassee Increased 83% from 2016 to 2017. “However, the number of murders in Leon county increased 83% from 12 in 2016 to 22 in 2017.” (“Leon Crime Rate Down, Still Leads Florida,” Tallahassee Reports, 5/22/2018) Tallahassee’s Crime Rate Leads the State Four Years in a Row. “The data shows that for the fourth year in a row the capital city’s crime rate has led the state. Overall, Florida’s crime rate saw a 6 percent decrease in 2017.” (Karl Etters, “Crime rate down, but Leon County still tops state,” Tallahassee Democrat, 5/22/2018) Andrew Gillum’s Former Chief of Staff Criticizes Tallahassee Crime Rate, Says “We Must Do Better.” “One of Andrew Gillum’s most important messages was trampled over the weekend by an unexpected critic: his former chief of staff…’Tallahassee had the highest number of murders in history last year and we top the state for the highest crime rate,’ read one of the mail pieces. ‘We must do better.’” (Matt Dixon, “Gillum’s own chief of staff criticizes Tallahassee crime rate,” POLITICO, 9/24/2018)

Thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Americans—and Floridians—have more job opportunities and more money in their wallets. The Act has led to a “remarkably positive” period of economic growth that has been described as “unprecedented in modern history.” Thanks to Republican support for conservative, free-market principles, employment is at record lows—particularly for Hispanics, African Americans and women. Ron DeSantis, while in Congress, was proud to support this bill, and as Governor, will work to ensure Florida continues to experience the benefits of this incredible economic boom. Andrew Gillum, on the other hand, would be disastrous for Florida’s booming economy. He is proposing one of the largest tax increases in Florida’s history—$1 billion annually—which would incentivize companies to institute hiring and pay-raise freezes, or even encourage them to relocate to other states. He proposes a government-mandated $15 minimum wage that would destroy thousands of jobs and decimate small businesses. Florida cannot afford Andrew Gillum—his policies and spending programs would hinder economic growth and lead to lower wages and fewer job opportunities. Florida needs a leader like Ron DeSantis, who will build off of the success of the current economic boom and continue to foster an environment where Florida businesses and families can flourish for generations to come. Black and Hispanic Unemployment at Record Lows. “Black unemployment fell to 6.6 percent in April, the lowest in data dating back to 1972, while the jobless rate among Hispanics dipped to 4.8 percent, matching the lowest on record, Labor Department figures showed Friday. Black and Hispanic jobless rates are generally more volatile than the overall unemployment figure, which fell below 4 percent last month for the first time since 2000.” (Randy Woods, “Black and Hispanic Unemployment in America Reach Record Lows,” Bloomberg, 5/4/2018) Female Unemployment at Lowest Point in Decades. “Female unemployment inched down to 3.6 percent, the lowest since 1953.” (Petr Svab, “Black Unemployment Plummets to New Record, Lowest for Women Since 1953,” The Epoch Times, 6/1/2018 updated 6/2/2018) Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has Contributed to Period of Economic Growth Unprecedented in Modern History. “Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell said Tuesday that the U.S. economy appears to be in the midst of a ‘remarkably positive’ period that is unprecedented in modern history… Powell has been careful not to wade into discussions of who deserves credit for the economy since the Fed is an independent body, but he said last week that the tax cuts have played a role in boosting growth.” (Heather Long, “This is almost the ‘too good to be true’ economy, Fed chair says,” Washington Post, 10/2/2018) Andrew Gillum Calls to Increase Florida’s Corporate Tax Rate. “In a move setting him apart from usually tax-averse Florida candidates, Democrat Andrew Gillum has called for a stunning 40 percent increase in Florida’s corporate income tax — which he wants to use to raise $1 billion more for education, including $50,000 minimum starting salaries for teachers.” “‘Punishing corporations by taking money out of the pockets of job-creators is going to have a chilling effect on this state’s economy,’ Feeney added.”(John Kennedy, “Gillum corporate tax hike emerges as big dollar divide with DeSantis,” GateHouse Capital Bureau via Daytona Beach News-Journal, 9/16/2018) Andrew Gillum’s Corporate Tax Increase Would Hurt Floridians. “Put simply, Gillum’s plan is to have Florida’s biggest corporations pay $1 billion more a year in taxes. That could affect average Floridians, experts told us. But it is difficult to put a dollar figure on it. Kurt Wenner, vice president of research at Florida TaxWatch, said that if a business is forced to pay more in taxes, it can raise prices, reduce employment, reduce costs or investment, or reduce profits. ‘Those outcomes would all potentially have negative impacts on residents,’ Wenner said. ‘The magnitude of those impacts would be hard to quantify, especially factoring in any economic increase from increase government spending.'”(Amy Sherman, “PolitiFact Florida: $1 billion Florida tax hike? Andrew Gillum proposes increasing state corporate tax,” PolitiFact Florida via Tampa Bay Times, 9/24/2018) Gillum’s Proposed Minimum Wage Increase Would Significantly Impact Florida Businesses. “A conservative estimate shows that with an abrupt increase to $15 per hour Florida businesses could expect to see a nearly $2 billion ($1,834,618,188) increase in the cost of minimum wage labor. This estimate only accounts for an increase in the cost of those workers that are currently making minimum wage ($8.05 per hour); however, an increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour would raise the cost of labor of all those employees making less than $15 per hour. Because the median wage in Florida is $15.29 per hour, the proposed increase would raise the cost of nearly half of Florida’s workforce, significantly impacting how businesses in Florida operate.” (“The Impact of a $15/hour Minimum Wage in Florida,” Florida Trend, 6/28/2016)

The 2018 Florida Governor race is upon us. I wanted to take a minute to reach out and talk to you about the importance of helping to get our friend, Ron DeSantis, elected. Ron has been an advocate to our community well before this election started, but it is important to note that he is the only candidate who will maintain the low-tax, business-friendly environment that we enjoy here in Florida. Ron also is a strong defender of our current laws that treat everyone as equals in regard to educational opportunities and hiring. He was the only candidate to wish us a Happy Mid Autumn Festival. He also met with business leaders in our community to hear our concerns. That's the type of leader we need in Florida. That's the type of leader who will be an example for our children and give them the ability to rise up. I ask you today to join me in supporting the most pro-asian candidate that is on the ballot. Together, we can make a difference in this election. Our voices are loud and we are ready. Vote for our friend, Ron DeSantis, to be the next governor! Kind Regards, Cliff Zhonggang Li Asians for DeSantis Chairman               Paid by Ron DeSantis, Republican, for Governor 301 W. Platt Street, Suite 438 Tampa, FL 33606

Orlando, Fla. – The Ron DeSantis for Governor campaign today released their updated voter engagement numbers for the month so far. The campaign has 30 field offices with 6,201 volunteers engaging voters throughout the state. Since October 1, the campaign has had tremendous success, with: 578,607 doors knocked 561,471 phone calls made The campaign will continue to capitalize on this strong momentum, which will contribute to a big win on November 6.

In case you missed it, 40 small business owners from across the state of Florida released an open letter to raise their concerns over the potentially devastating impacts Gubernatorial Candidate Andrew Gillum’s economic policies would have on small businesses, as outlined in the James Madison Institute’s recent 2018 Election Report. In the letter, these small business owners state, “Gillum’s plan to raise the corporate tax rate, double the minimum wage and mandate a complete government takeover of healthcare will radically alter the business climate and impede entrepreneurs’ abilities to operate successfully and grow our economy.” They continue, “In fact, JMI’s report states that ‘the policy agenda Candidate Gillum proposes would require an increase in the corporate tax rate to the 2nd highest in the United States, an increase in Florida’s sales tax to 39 percent, or the imposition of a state income tax as high as 37 percent’ – all possibilities that would jeopardize the low-tax business climate we’ve worked so hard to create, turning the clock back on our state’s businesses and erasing our economic gains.” The small business owners also praised Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Ron DeSantis for his economic plan stating, “Ron DeSantis’ pro-growth agenda would keep Florida’s taxes low, remove roadblocks to business by eliminating burdensome government regulation, attract more businesses to the state and continue to grow jobs for all Floridians.” They concluded by saying, “NFIB believes the choice for Governor is clear. Ron DeSantis is committed to the policies that will continue our state on the path to economic prosperity. Andrew Gillum is committed to policies that will hinder our state’s businesses and damage our economic well-being. Florida can’t afford to turn the clock back now.”

In case you missed it, last night on his show, Tucker Carlson Tonight, Tucker Carlson called out Andrew Gillum's radical, anti-police policies and his long-time support from radical billionaires George Soros, and Tom Steyer. During the segment, Tucker addressed Andrew Gillum's own statements calling for abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, impeaching President Trump, and his long-time support for the organization Dream Defenders, who believe that police and prisons have no place in justice. Andrew Gillum signed a pledge to support their anti-police policies, including promising to divest money away from law enforcement. Click the image below to watch the full segment: