"The real DeSantis record is one of misery and despair. He has left a wake of destruction all across Florida and people are hurting because he has spent more time playing public relations games instead of actually doing the hard-work needed to improve the lives of the people he represents." - Steven Cheung, spokesperson

 

Mar-a-Lago, FL— While Ron DeSantis engages in a weeks-long shadow campaign for president boasting his playbook, Florida continues to tumble into complete and total delinquency and destruction.

 

On DeSantis’ watch, Florida has become one of the least affordable states to live in the country. 

 

In his first term as Florida governor, Ron DeSantis raised taxes on Floridians by more than $1.5 billion.

 

The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that a Floridian making $10 an hour must work 86 hours per week just to afford rent on a modest single bedroom home in Florida.

 

The cost of living in south Florida shot up 10% in just the last year alone, the highest increase by far in years, while the national average was only 6.5%.

 

Home prices skyrocketed in Miami by 32% last year, and by 34% in Tampa.

 

According to a 2023 SmartAsset study, the Orlando metropolitan area was the 10th most expensive to live comfortably in the nation. Miami closely followed, as the 12th most expensive metropolitan area and Tampa also made the list, as the 16th most expensive.

 

Florida is now the fourth-most expensive state in the country for healthcare, and has the highest annual car insurance premiums in the nation.

 

While nearly half of the gas stations in Miami and Fort Lauderdale are without fuel, those Floridians lucky enough to find a gas station with fuel will be paying a stiff premium. 

 

Florida ranks in the 10 most expensive states in the continental United States for fuel prices, and in 2023, Florida imposed a new hike on fuel purchases.

 

On Education, Florida ranked #39 in Health and Safety, #50 in Affordability, and #30 in Education and Childcare.

 

Under Ron DeSantis, Florida has become among the worst states…

 

To Live: In April 2023, Money Inc cited Florida’s failing education system and above average poverty rate in its list of 20 Worst States to Live in America.

 

To Find Economic Opportunity: Florida ranked 36th in Economic Opportunity, according to U.S. News.

 

To Work: An Oxfam report had Florida at 29th in their Best and Worst States to Work rankings.

 

To Retire: Florida ranked 26th in elder abuse protections, and was the worst state in the country for resources related to elder abuse protections.

 

To Raise a Family: In 2023, WalletHub marked Florida as one of the worst states in the nation to raise a family—ranking 32nd. Within that survey, Florida ranked 50th in Affordability, 30th in Education and Child Care, and 39th in Health and Safety. In 2022, Florida ranked 39th, among the worst states in the nation to raise a family.

 

To Pay Taxes: Florida is the third-worst state for fair taxes in the nation, according to a 2020 study.

 

To Be Safe: In WalletHub’s October 2022 rankings of safest states to live, Florida came in at the bottom, ranking 44th out of 50. According to the study, Florida ranked 44th in workplace safety, 46th in roadway safety, and 25th in financial safety, and 34th in personal safety.

 

To Rent a Home: Median rent prices shot up 30% from 2020 to 2022, with more than 2 million Floridians spending more than 30% of their income on housing, alone.

 

To Have A Baby: Florida ranked 42nd in the Best States to Have a Baby, 44th most to have a baby, 37th in Healthcare, and 39th as one of the nation’s least family friendly states.

 

To Afford Energy: Florida ranked 38th in energy affordability, with the 4th most expensive monthly electricity costs of any state ($158) and 11th most expensive monthly natural gas costs ($82).

 

To Die: ESPN wrote that Florida is the Worst State in The Nation To Die, citing the fact that Florida has the fewest Medicare providers per capita of any state. Reminder: DeSantis voted to cut Social Security and Medicare, and raise the eligibility age to receive benefits.

 

To Be a Teacher: In 2022, Florida was the 3rd worst state in the nation for teacher pay. 

 

To Be a Doctor: Florida ranked 37th on the list of Best States for Doctors, namely due to Florida’s failing medical environment.

 

To Be a Police Officer: Florida came in at the bottom of the list, placing 36th in the rankings for best states to serve as a police officer.

 

For Millennials: Florida ranked among the worst states in the nation for millennials (37th)—placing in the bottom 10 states for education and health.

 

For Working Dads: Florida ranked 36th on the list of Best and Worst States for Working Dads, marking 46th in the category of economic and social well-being.

 

For Working Moms: Florida placed 26th in the ranking for Best and Worst States for Working Moms.

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