Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told a crowd in Simi Valley

on

Sunday that the “woke mind virus” infiltrating schools, businesses and other institutions in California and other Democratic strongholds led to

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influx of residents to his state, demonstrating the popularity of his anti-liberal policies.

Widely seen as a contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, DeSantis took a mild poke at the California government. Gavin Newsom, to the delight of the 1,000 or so

people

who came to see him at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, lashing out at the pandemic shutdowns and vaccine mandates in what has become grist to his rising popularity within the GOP.

We had a great experiment, a great test in governance philosophies, DeSantis told an audience in the library’s spacious Air Force One pavilion. “The American people… voted with their feet. And if you look at the past four years, we have witnessed a major American exodus from states ruled by leftist politicians who impose leftist ideology and get bad results. ”

Spicing his remarks with statistics comparing Florida’s track record in education, business creation, tourism, unemployment and other measures to states like California and New York, DeSantis said his state’s results “speak for themselves.”

DeSantis’ appearance in Simi Valley attracted both conservative celebrities, including the former governor of California. Pete Wilson and actor Gary Sinise, and a throne of largely peaceful protesters. However, one of the entrance signs to the library was spray painted with “Ron DeFascist” overnight. Simi Valley police said there were no witnesses and library staff

were able to

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it for the event.

Attendees who arrived at the library were greeted by about 100 protesters, many with rainbow flags showing their support for the LGBTQ community. “

SAY GAY EVERY DAY Say gay every day

read a protester’s sign, a reference to legislation signed by DeSantis, known by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill because it bans discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms from kindergarten through third grade. class.

“I stand as a 52-year-old gay man who had the courage to fight for what I believe in,” said protester Ernest Cornish, who lives in Hollywood and runs a photography company. “God created me in his image, as he intended me to be.”

Jane Wishon, a 67-year-old retiree from West Los Angeles, said DeSantis’s rhetoric on issues such as transgender people’s ability to use the restrooms of their choice is “dangerous.”

“Other groups, no matter what they are… make some people feel better about themselves, but that’s not what our country is built on,” she said.

DeSantis’ visit to California includes a performance

Sunday night

at a private fundraiser for the Orange County Republican Party in Anaheim

Sunday night

.

Speaking at Simi Valley, DeSantis praised his record on education, including restrictions on classroom discussion of gender identity among young students, banning critical race theory, limiting tenure protections for college professors, and increasing the options for schools, including private school scholarships.

“We’re not going to teach our students to hate this country or hate each other. We’re not going to divide students based on skin color. We’re going to teach them what’s important, the content of their character.” he said. “I think parents should be able to send their children to primary school without getting an agenda stuck in their throat.”

The Florida governor, whose wife and two of his three children were in attendance, said he saw these issues not only as a legislator but as a “father.”

[ADD DEETS HERE FROM ANAHEIM EVENT ONCE I CAN SPEAK TO PPL IN EVENING.]

While DeSantis isn’t raising money for himself on this California trip, he is

encounter

with wealthy donors and influential Republicans

P

arts leaders here and at events across the country as he promotes his new book, The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for Americas Revival. Additional stops are scheduled throughout

the

in the coming weeks in Alabama and Florida, as well as in the early electoral states of Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

Shortly before the book came out

on

Tuesday

[2/28]

the governor of Florida spoke out against the Democratic policy during appearances in New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

although

DeSantis did not name Newsom, prodding him as he began his speech. DeSantis has a long-running feud with Newsom, who has accused Florida’s governor of being a bully and criticized his approach to abortion, immigration and other issues.

“Your governor is very concerned about what we’re doing in Florida, so I thought I should come

buy on

DeSantis said Sunday, to applause and laughter.

Newsom welcomed DeSantis to the “true state of freedom” in a statement released Sunday.

“Just look at the data California residents are safer, healthier and more affluent than those unlucky enough to have you as their

G

overnor,” said Newsom. “Oh, by the way, you’re going to get smoked by Trump.

The sprawling mountaintop presidential library where DeSantis appeared is home to replicas of the White House Oval Office, Rose Garden, and South Lawn, as well as the graves of Reagan and his wife, Nancy. A host of four GOP primary debates, the library has practically become a required pilgrimage for Republican presidential candidates.

This is especially true leading up to the 2024 presidential campaign given the California primary in early March, which could affect determining the party’s nominee due to the size of the state’s delegation to the Republican National Assembly. Convention.

Others who have spoken there include former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who has announced a bid for the White House, as well as former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Governor of South Dakota. Kristi Noem, Governor of New Hampshire. Chris Sununu and former Wisconsin Rep. Liz Cheney.

About 37% of California Republican voters support DeSantis in the presidential contest, while 29% favor former President Trump, according to a poll published in late February by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies and co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times. The other GOP leaders mentioned above, as well as other potential candidates, received single-digit support in the poll.

DeSantis is seen by some GOP politicians as the party’s best chance at preventing Trump from winning the nomination and reducing their chances of beating President Biden.

Trump has already set his sights on his fellow Floridian and nicknamed DeSantis as Ron DeSanctimonious.

On Sunday, DeSantis did not mention Trump during his 45-minute speech. Instead, he focused on another former President Reagan by claiming that his efforts are in line with the priorities and core beliefs of the nation’s 40th president.

“It’s not easy going into battle. When we stand up and you stand for what’s right, and you stand for the things that President Reagan stood for, and so many other great leaders, there is a cost to that in these Left will not let you advance its agenda without contesting it. They will smear you, they will attack you,” he said. But “we must win the fight for freedom, and if we do, we will win another one for the Gipper.”