The DeSantis Case Against California

Our book is titled Divided We Stand: The 2020 Elections and American Politics.  Among other things, it discusses state and congressional elections. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom will debate Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Fox News at 6 pm Pacific (9 pm Eastern). “DeSantis vs. Newsom: The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate,” will be 90 minutes long. DeSantis will probably say:

• People are voting with their feet. Between 2020 and 2022, the Census reports, California had a net population loss of 508,903.  Florida had a net population gain of 706,597
• When the Census takes housing costs into account, California has the highest poverty rate of the 50 states, at 13.2 percent.  Newsom will reply that Florida is close behind at 12.7 percent and by the standard poverty measure has a higher rate (13.1 percent v. 11.4 percent.).  See the Census poverty report at page 47.
• California's homeless rate is much higher: 44 per 10,000  v. Florida's 12 per 10,000.
• In October 2023, Florida's unemployment rate was 2.8 percent.  California's was 4.8 percent.  Of the 50 states, only Nevada had higher unemployment.
• In 2022, California had a higher rate of reported crime (499.5 per 100,000) than Florida (258.9 per 100,000).
• The Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index ranks Florida in 4th place among the 50 states. California ranks 48th.
• When Consumer Affairs ranked states by the condition of their roads, California was the fourth-worst, while Florida was the seventh-best.
• On education, US News ranks Florida number one.  California is in 20th place.