Gavin Newsom pledges $100K to deny Ron DeSantis a second term

DeSantis newsom
'Who will join me in helping Charlie become the next Governor of Florida?'

Just as the golden age of hip hop was animated by conflicts between East Coast and West Coast figures, the same appears to be true in 2022 politics, with California’s Governor inserting himself into Florida’s gubernatorial race.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is pledging $100,000 of support for Florida’s Democratic nominee for Governor, Charlie Crist, with the goal of denying DeSantis a second term.

“Time to make Ron DeSantis a one-term governor. I’m pledging $100k right now,” Newsom tweeted. “Who will join me in helping Charlie become the next Governor of Florida?”

Newsom’s vow seems to be an early sign that after months of Democratic gubernatorial candidates trailing DeSantis badly in the cash races, help may be on the way from blue state Democrats. That’s a read affirmed by the Crist camp.

“It’s a clear sign of the national enthusiasm for defeating Ron DeSantis,” said Campaign Manager Austin Durrer.

There is precedent, of course, for national players getting involved in Florida’s gubernatorial election. The 2018 governor’s race saw outside money pour in for Democrat Andrew Gillum, though that contest was characterized by polls consistently showing Gillum ahead until the time people actually started casting votes.

Newsom has already messaged against DeSantis once this cycle, taking a page out of the Florida Governor’s playbook with an ad buy on Fox News, where he inverted the DeSantis construct of the Free State of Florida to suggest DeSantis is actually restricting freedoms.

“Freedom, it’s under attack in your state,” Newsom said. “Your Republican leaders, they’re banning books, making it harder to vote, restricting speech in classrooms, even criminalizing women and doctors,” Newsom continued, backdropped by images of DeSantis and mainstream media headlines blasting DeSantis.

“I urge all of you living in Florida to join the fight. Or join us in California, where we still believe in freedom — freedom of speech, freedom to choose, freedom from hate and the freedom to love,” Newsom added. “Don’t let them take your freedom.”

Polling in Newsom’s home state shows DeSantis, despite being nearly 3,000 miles away, is a figure of fascination with Golden State Republicans, 31% of whom say they would vote for him in a GOP Primary. It appears the antagonism has mutual benefit, with Newsom atop a diffuse presidential field on the Democratic side in 2024.

The political feud benefits both sides, in other words.

We reached out to the DeSantis campaign for comment on Newsom’s pledge. We never got it. But the campaign apparatus did attempt to weaponize the event.

The DeSantis War Room responded with a Twitter video spotlighting negative news stories about homelessness, crime and other issues in California, interspersed with pictures of Newsom and screenshots of tweets from Crist and him.

“Yesterday, Charlie Crist told Floridians he doesn’t want our votes. Today, Charlie Crist thanked the governor of the failed state of California for his money. Priorities! Join us on a tour of Gavin Newsom’s Dystopia-by-the-Sea to learn why we say ‘Don’t California My Florida,'” tweeted the rapid response arm of the Governor’s re-election campaign.

Rapid response director Christina Pushaw also offered takes on her personal Twitter account Thursday.

“Who needs opposition research when your opponents are like this,” she asserted.

By Friday morning, a fundraising email was sent to supporters.

“Gavin Newsom’s obsession with Florida and Governor DeSantis continues to grow as he pledges $100,000 to Charlie Crist — the man who has already declared he doesn’t want your vote,” the email contended, promising more Democratic governors would follow Newsom’s lead.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. His work also can be seen in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and National Review, among other publications. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


62 comments

  • Ron Be Gone

    August 25, 2022 at 12:29 pm

    Make DumbSantis a one term failure. Vote in November!

    • David Me usker

      August 25, 2022 at 5:20 pm

      Proud to be a Floridian and it’s GREAT to have a Governor with common sense who stands up to the WOkE dementia.

      • WOKE AF

        August 25, 2022 at 5:34 pm

        WOKE dementia. Your doctor diagnose that? Haha. Enjoy the last days of DerSantis. This native and proud Floridian can’t wait to send him packing.

        • Leonard Spencer

          August 25, 2022 at 7:16 pm

          Woke—you must have been dropped on your head multiple times as a baby.

      • I'm woke too

        August 25, 2022 at 6:32 pm

        Get woke or you gonna go broke you fu€&!π @$$π0L€…

    • Margaret Polifko

      August 26, 2022 at 7:49 am

      Duh, wake up.

  • Impeach Biden

    August 25, 2022 at 12:42 pm

    I mean really Newsom? People are leaving Kalifornia in record numbers. I’m
    On my way right now to Austin and look at all the companies that are moving to Texas. Let’s see Kalifornia just list a congressional seat while Texas and Florida gain. We don’t want your crappy politics here or your high taxes. Just go away. Like the bumper sticker says that I have seen in Florida, “Don’t California my Florida”

    • Charlie Crist

      August 25, 2022 at 12:47 pm

      ^ False information peddler…also doesn’t want to pay taxes so socially irresponsible. Backwoods greasy greasy… non advancement cave man.

      • Impeach Biden

        August 25, 2022 at 1:00 pm

        What’s false Charlie? Companies and people are fleeing Kalifornia. Now the moron wants to ban internal combustion cars by 2035. Look at what state had more Covid deaths than any other. He wants to be President one day but he simply can’t run on his record in California. The Red Tsunami is coming Charlie / Corsin / Offen.

        • Charlie Crist

          August 25, 2022 at 4:08 pm

          Yeah caveman conservative missteps have been driving the GOP into the ground for the last 20 years. Don’t complain or riot when it becomes impossible to get a Republican into the office of the presidency. Just too many fk ups. Wars, crashes, crime presidents, clown courts taking rights away. GOP will pay overall..

          • Flip-Flop Charlie

            August 25, 2022 at 6:22 pm

            WARS!? The Democrats are most war-mongering politicians the world has ever known. CRIME!? Obama’s administration provided Mexican cartels with automatic weapons. Both parties have blood on their hands but you’re a sheep like the rest of society and are stuck in the liberal echo chamber of lunacy.

          • Charlie Crist

            August 25, 2022 at 6:35 pm

            @FFC: An obvious fib, egregious lie, straight BS. Everyone who isn’t a right wing propagandist is “a sheep?” You smokin meth buddy.

        • Bill

          August 26, 2022 at 3:42 pm

          Just a note but Florida has had the third most covid deaths and Texas second. We have nothing to brag about here despite what desantis might want others to believe. As another aside, what’s wrong with electric cars? You got shares in ExxonMobil or are you sitting around waiting for Florida to sink?

          • Paul Passarelli

            August 26, 2022 at 9:28 pm

            Is it really that surprising that Florida being the 3rd largest state had the 3rd most deaths?

            The fact remains that COVIS has a less than 1) mortality rate in healthy people. Florida also has one of the largest *RETIRED* populations, and like it or not that means people who are statistically closer to their end of life than the rest of the country.

            My first reaction was to write: “Freedom has its price.” Which is still true. That’s my talking point. It requires strength of character to accept.

            Your talking points are fear mongering. They require only that some sheeple feel intimidated to be effective.

    • PeterH

      August 25, 2022 at 4:56 pm

      In the past six months 750,000 Californians moved to Mexico City where rents are 1/3 of those in California. They’re working remotely…….AND VOTING IN CALIFORNIA.

      California is a giver State meaning that it sends more money to the National treasury than it receives. Compare that to Florida which for every dollar it sends to Washington the state receives $4.50 in return. If California was a country comparing its GDP to other countries ….. California has the 6th largest economy on planet earth.

      Texas was ranked number two from the bottom for schools, hospitals, health care and livability. Arizona is at the very bottom. After 20 years of failed Republican leadership in Florida I’m sure DeSantis’s culture war state will be in next years ranking.

      Only two states in the USA are hiring college dropouts with two years of College to “teach (babysit) in our elementary and secondary classrooms. FLORIDA AND ARIZONA

      WHINE ON. REPUBLICANS ARE DESTROYING THIS COUNTRY.

      • Impeach Biden

        August 25, 2022 at 8:26 pm

        Tell that to the U-Haul people in Kalifornia. The trucks are gone and in Texas and Florida. Why don’t you load up your belongings Peter H and take one of those vehicles back to Kalifornia. People are waiting for them to get out of that socialist hell hole. Tell Newsom, Pelosi, Waters I said hi.😜

        • Impeach Biden

          August 25, 2022 at 8:27 pm

          Come on FP . REALLY?

      • Impeach Biden

        August 25, 2022 at 8:38 pm

        Peter H. There are hundreds of U-Haul vehicles in Florida and Texas as people flee Kalifornia. Don’t believe me? For the first time in its history Kalifornia is losing a Congressional seat. Do us all a favor and pack up your stuff, load it on a U-Haul and head West. They need U-Hauls out there for people to leave.

        • Charlie Crist

          August 25, 2022 at 10:20 pm

          His point is that Florida is an underdeveloped grifter state full of con men…and only rich people really enjoy life here. Also stupid people who settle for less love it here

  • Tom

    August 25, 2022 at 1:21 pm

    $100,000 is a joke.
    Meaningless and inconsequential
    LMAO, the Dem Soros Manchurians are worried. Newsom is scared of America’s Gov.
    LMAO

    • Charlie Crist

      August 25, 2022 at 4:11 pm

      “Dem Soros Manchurians”…no such thing, nonsense, gibberish, babbling, nincompoopery..

      • Tom

        August 25, 2022 at 8:14 pm

        The fact you replied to the FP legend speaks for itself. LMAO
        I own you!

        Read below reply to Paul & Julie
        LMAO

        • Charlie Crist

          August 25, 2022 at 10:22 pm

          ^ FP legend my azzhole. FP idiot..

          • Tom

            August 26, 2022 at 7:02 am

            Just keep on replying to legend!
            LMAO, corsin the dush bag.

    • Leonard Spencer

      August 25, 2022 at 7:14 pm

      It is a token gesture of support by Newson who plans on running for President. He wants to show support for Crist but at the same time doesn’t really want him to win because he would become a competitor for the WH. Compare this contribution to the $1 million that Mitt Romney delivered to Crist when he was elected Governor in 2006….that says it all.

  • Ron Ogden

    August 25, 2022 at 1:44 pm

    Newsom had better think ahead. Everybody knows the only reason Charlie is running is to position himself for a presidential race in 2024, the same thing Newsom wants. It would be better for Newsom’s presidential aspirations if Charlie lost this November–as he is likely to do. When is some enterprising reporter going to ask Charlie to go on record about his own presidential ambitions?

  • marylou

    August 25, 2022 at 4:12 pm

    REAL Navy pilots are mocking deDICKtator for playing dress-up in his son’s Fighter Jet Halloween Costume. Save it for Junior, wRONg. Some pilots are calling it “Stolen Valor”. dePsycho wasn’t ‘dog-fighting”. He was lawyer-ing– in the urinalysis (peepee) lab and prosecuting Court Martial cases.

    Ron’s ad comes right as he has been ridiculing the military over pronouns–hahaha! Pronouns! MoRON is worried about pronouns! Cruise is gonna sue!

    • Impeach Biden

      August 25, 2022 at 4:20 pm

      Marylou that is complete hogwash. I am willing to bet you that most of the Naval Aviator’s support Ron DeSantis. If anyone is stealing valor it is the current “incompetent in Chief” running the White House now. Him and his Ray Bans and his leather jacket. What a draft dodging fool he is.

  • Jerry

    August 25, 2022 at 4:29 pm

    Tons of people have been fleeing states like California trying to get away from COVID tyrants, high taxes, high crime, and high homelessness.

    Newsome has enough problems in his own state than to worry about one 3,000 miles away. But he’s likely the Dem’s backup for 2024 if Biden has to go to a nursing home. So trying to damage DeSantis would be in his own interests.

  • Paul Passarelli

    August 25, 2022 at 5:12 pm

    This is quite comical. The nation’s *WORST* governor is spending money to try to defeat the nation’s *BEST* governor.

    Also, how is this legal?

    • Impeach Biden

      August 25, 2022 at 6:27 pm

      Newsom, Cuomo, Whitmer. Put those three together for fundraising. The 3 Stooges 😄

      • Charlie Crist

        August 25, 2022 at 6:38 pm

        You, Nikki Fried, Fat Cammack. Put those three together…they give you bare @$$ rug scrub in face. Leave your face crushed and stained.🍩😆

        • Impeach Biden

          August 25, 2022 at 7:53 pm

          And for you Crist /Corsin / Offen a combo of Omar, Tlaib, Bush, Waters, Hirono, Wasserman-Schultz. That should put you out of you misery and maybe end your nonsense once and for all. It’s Coming. The Red Tsunami.🤣

        • Paul Passarelli

          August 25, 2022 at 7:56 pm

          Unless your name really is Charlie Crist, please don’t post as him. That’s a low-class Democrat tactic, used to troll legit fora discussions.

          If you have something you want to say, put your real name on it.

          • Tom

            August 25, 2022 at 9:33 pm

            It is not his name.
            He’s part of a tag team of soros Manchurians. He was crazy Alex, went to mental ward. Now has escaped age is a dual fake personality of idiot Elliot and Joey corsin.
            Agreed the chameleon reference fake moniker is classless. Par for course.

          • Charlie Crist

            August 25, 2022 at 10:25 pm

            @Paul: Go back to New York. My real name is Pasta Paul “greasy greasy” Pastarelli 🍝

  • Julie

    August 25, 2022 at 7:02 pm

    I will take anybody over Desantes…
    Yes, Christ has gone back and forth, but realizes where he belongs . Desantes is only looking to take control of your life.. your freedoms… Desantes only cares about what and whom is important to Him, his policies show that…

    • Impeach. Iden

      August 25, 2022 at 7:43 pm

      Julie and others prove there are still people out there that would vote for Andrew Gillum again if given the chance.

    • Tom

      August 25, 2022 at 8:08 pm

      Julie, Chameleon has no chance!
      Pail, it’s lawful. Contribution.
      Meaningless too.

      America’s Gov, whiz kid Gov. youngest Gov chief executive in country.
      Whiz kid, whizzes upon the Dem, Dum Soros Manchurian nation. Extra whiz upon Corsin and idiot Elliott. Enjoy!
      LMAO.

  • Tom

    August 25, 2022 at 7:24 pm

    Of course they have been fleeing blue states.
    Gov announced today, Florida leads in net migration to the state.

    clueless Dem clowns!

  • Paul Passarelli

    August 25, 2022 at 8:20 pm

    Just keep parotting the false narrative that makes dumb Democrats feel better about their half century of failed policies which have essentially destroyed the nation.

    • Tom

      August 25, 2022 at 9:28 pm

      Paul, Facts are funny things.
      Which they cannot accept.

      • Charlie Crist

        August 25, 2022 at 10:27 pm

        You just something out back in the woods somewhere. Need Fat Cammack face sit, rug scrub, anchovy mash.

        • Paul Passarelli

          August 25, 2022 at 11:43 pm

          Is that word salad? Are you drooling on yourself? Did you do too many drugs as a child? Perhaps you suffer from the after effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

    • Charlie Crist

      August 25, 2022 at 10:30 pm

      YOU peddling false narratives. Even the statement “false narrative” you are just parroting Ron DeDumbDumb. You like robot… right wing robot…lie machine. You going to hell buddy 🔥

  • Paul Passarelli

    August 25, 2022 at 11:36 pm

    I know, Tom. I’ve dealt with assholes like him for decades on so many public fora that I’ve lost count. Look what he wrote below. He thinks that making fun of my name is somehow witty, or actually he’s proud that he can be hurtful.

    It’s always the Leftists that are so utterly crass, clueless, coarse, and contemptible. I really don’t understand them. But then again I don’t understand schizophrenia either.

    As Dr. Michael Savage says: “Liberalism is a mental disorder.”

    • Tom

      August 26, 2022 at 6:59 am

      Paul, ridicule the left with political humor as it crushes them to nothing.
      Offen/idiot Elliot is a moron. Clueless.
      I am the FP legend. Enjoy!

      • Charlie Crist

        August 26, 2022 at 8:09 am

        FP legend…such an honorary title, huge accomplishment, huge idiot..

        • Tom

          August 26, 2022 at 10:40 am

          Yes, see you now acknowledge me, you dim wit, moronic corsin, idiot Elliot. So pathetic.

      • Paul Passarelli

        August 26, 2022 at 9:35 am

        These Leftwing shitstirrers are very much like mass shooters. They prefer soft targets, which is the typical M.O. of most online fora. Very few people will take the time to give then a verbal counterassault.

        When confronted with resistance, they lose their cool, and start responding with name calling, and various third-grade insults.

        Atht at point, humiliating them is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel. There is also another loud & clear signal that they are beat, and defeated; they bring out another new identity yo try and make a fresh start.

        So Joe Corsin will disappear, so will Elliot whatever, to be replaced by a new entity, in this case Charlie Crist, which is not only telling, it’s ironic.

        They hate Ron DeSantis so much they are willing to sow salt in their candidate’s fields.

        And this is why I repeatedly say Democrats & their supporters are imbeciles.

        Keep Calm & Carry On

        • Charlie Crist

          August 26, 2022 at 11:15 am

          Seek help for your failed NY con man pasta brand… “Pastarelli 🍝”…have a little snake oil to go with it ..Trump brand snake oil. You thugs ought to be ashamed.

    • Bill

      August 26, 2022 at 3:49 pm

      I assume you’ve read some of tom’s posts, he apparently thinks he’s witty as well but it can be hard to decipher and truth be told, the way you see leftists is how I see maga’s – just look at a picture or video of Jan 6th – crass, clueless, coarse, and contemptible would not be unreasonable descriptions. Quite the country we live in these days.

      • Tom

        August 26, 2022 at 6:18 pm

        Yeah Bill, I know you are are so outraged with BLM riots, murderers and killings.

        You’d like that in Florida with lame chameleon. Sorry this won’t be happening with Gov Ron.

        Go back to mommy’s basement.
        LMAO.

      • Paul Passarelli

        August 26, 2022 at 9:59 pm

        Pictures of Jan 6, pfft. OK, Shall we compare them to pictures of Jan 20 2016?

        That’d be the day democratas actually destroyed *TENS of MILLIONS* of dollars worth of property, set fires, smashed windows & vehicles, looted, shall I go on?

        By comparison Jan 6 was a Boy-Scout Jamboree.

        The Left desperately want people to think of Jan 6 as a coup, as an insurrection. Both of those things generally involve the use of arms & weapons. Are you seriously expecting anyone to believe they forgot to bring their weapons in their zeal to take over the government?

        Anyone that supports that argument is obviously an idiot. The Left is pushing that argument. Therefore the Leftists are idiots.

        Now if you can make a *VALID* argument as to why you believe that MAGA is a problem, by all means, I’ll listen.

        Please don’t try to lay the reason for all that hatred on the actions of a single person. Because if that’s fair the we’ll do the same. Sleepy Joe is a Pedo, Hillary is a murderer, Epstein was a trafficker. Do you wand all Democrats judged by the actions of the worst?

        Actually, that might be a great idea. Then we could shoot Dems on sight and claim they were molesting children…

  • Tom

    August 26, 2022 at 7:07 am

    Newsom is comical with his $100,000 toilet paper contribution. Dum Dems hysterical with pretend money compared to Govs $120 million or greater with cash on hand $$.

    He’s frightened of America’s Gov in 24.

    • Charlie Crist

      August 26, 2022 at 8:11 am

      Dum Dems? Like Q-Shaman and Ashli “Old Yeller” Babbitt? Alex Jones and Roger Stone? Crime spree Trump?

      • Tom

        August 26, 2022 at 10:38 am

        Charlie Yes, be sure to bring the depends for sleepy Joe, idiot Elliot, Joey incest corsin and Alex will change and wipe. LMAO

  • martin

    August 26, 2022 at 8:21 am

    This is the kind of garbage that should be illegal. A gov. of another state should in no way get involved in another state’s elections.
    However, in this case, Gov. hairgel just dumped his money down the drain.

  • Lisa F

    August 27, 2022 at 11:38 am

    Of interest is how Newsome plans to donate $100k to Crist when the limit is $3k. Through a pac?

    • Tom

      August 27, 2022 at 5:48 pm

      Likely state party.

  • Neil

    August 27, 2022 at 4:04 pm

    Ghetto Newsome will be the next President as Kamala Harris did not have a Naturalized parent at her birth

    • Tom

      August 27, 2022 at 5:49 pm

      Not

Comments are closed.


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