Welcome to RBG’s Weekly Scoop, giving you the inside scoop on everything pertaining to the 2022 Gubernatorial Race and, most importantly, our efforts to oust Ron DeSantis from the Florida Governor’s mansion.
This week DeSantis signed four bills aimed at counteracting federal vaccine and mask mandates – making him one of the loudest anti-vaccination public officials in the country. Among other things, these bills restrict businesses’ ability to mandate vaccines for their employees and ban school districts from passing mask mandates and vaccine requirements.
The Democrats vs. Ron
Ron DeSantis and Democratic candidate Charlie Crist are going toe-to-toe in their digital spending. DeSantis’ spend over the past 90 days totals $74K after coming online on Google with a $2,700 spend earlier this month. Crist’s spending over the past 90 days totals $72K across both Facebook and Google. Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Annette Taddeo has also entered the digital space with a modest spend of $424 on Facebook, but Nikki Fried has continued to not spend anything on digital ads since September.
DeSantis’ latest Facebook ads feature the new item for sale on his official campaign store – a set of two golf balls that reads, “Florida’s Governor has a pair.” While Florida’s governor may have some golf balls, he appears to be lacking any class.
In addition to his golf ball ads, DeSantis continues to run acquisition ads – or ads aimed at gathering potential support’s data – that position him against Joe Biden’s ‘power grab.’
Charlie Crist continues to run ads that challenge DeSantis on his record. In addition, some of his new ads challenge the idea that Florida is too red to win, stating that “[we can win] as long as we come together and put the work in.”
Annette Taddeo, a newcomer to the Democratic field, ran her first Facebook ads last week, a few variations of fundraising ads that ask for grassroots support for her campaign.
While Nikki Fried hasn’t spent money on digital ads, she continues to have a strong performance on organic channels like Twitter where she’s seeing high levels of engagement with her content.
The Race for Governor Online
This past week Charlie Crist and Nikki Fried were both calling for a gas tax halt through 2021 to help working families in Florida. You can watch the interview clip on Crist’s Twitter here.
Commissioner Nikki Fried also sent a letter to DeSantis’s office with the request – shown on her Twitter here.
On Monday DeSantis said he intends to propose “over a billion dollars in gas tax relief for Florida families.” Florida Representative Anna Eskamani pointed out on Twitter that this was pretty much what Democrats had been suggesting for the last week.
However, Charlie Crist isn’t satisfied and released a statement saying, “Gov. DeSantis, is a day late and a dollar short as usual. Last week’s not-so-Special Session should have addressed this issue instead of focusing on making it easier for the pandemic to continue spreading. Now in the best case, Floridians will have to wait months for any reduction in gas taxes.”
Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday Annette Taddeo took to Twitter to remind us how important it is to give back, posting pictures of her team volunteering for a Thanksgiving food drive in Miami.
In the Press
RON DESANTIS
Newsweek: Biden Admin Furious With Ron DeSantis as Disney World Ends Vaccine Mandate. November 23rd, 2021. The White House has responded with anger and accused Florida Governor Ron DeSantis of taking steps "backward" after Disney suspended its vaccine mandate at the company's resort in the state.
Miami Herald: About those NYPD cops who DeSantis praised for coming to Florida: There are issues. November 22nd, 2021. The new hires include one previously fired as a Walmart security guard, one with only three years of experience who demanded more than double his salary and others with mysterious gaps in their résumés.
Florida Politics: Ahead of ‘not guilty’ verdict, Ron DeSantis lined up with Kyle Rittenhouse. November 19th, 2021. DeSantis sent an email to backers: 'Kenosha, Rittenhouse, and Media Lies.'
CNN: Trump's ire grows as DeSantis' popularity with Republicans takes off. November 19th, 2021. In a matter of months, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has gone from being a shining example in Donald Trump's eyes of a MAGA leader molded in his image to an average politician who forgot his roots as he rose to Republican stardom.
CHARLIE CRIST
Florida Politics: Charlie Crist pitches gas tax break to offset inflation. November 17th, 2021. Crist, a U.S. Representative and former Florida Governor, said he wanted an exemption through the end of the year on the state tax on gas “to reduce it about 26 cents per gallon per consumer.”
NIKKI FRIED
WFTV: Agriculture commissioner calls for investigation into state’s high gas prices. November 17, 2021. In her letter, Fried asks Attorney General Ashley Moody to investigate the high gas prices under the Florida Antitrust Act. Fried said since September her Division of Consumer Services has received 80 consumer complaints about high gas prices as company profits soar.
ANNETTE TADDEO
Daytona Beach Journal: Annette Taddeo has overcome a cleft lip, 'socialista' label; can she beat Ron DeSantis?. November 19th, 2021. Campaigning just off the Interstate 4 corridor, the Miami state senator told a group of 20 Democrats she knows she must overcome the name recognition of her fellow Democratic contenders and the money amassed by the incumbent Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
That’s all for this week! To support Ron Be Gone’s work you can contribute online via ActBlue here or reach out to mikayla@ronbegone.com for more information. Thank you for your continued support. Wishing you and yours a happy and safe holiday week.
Team RonBeGone