Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis closed out the first day of the California Republican Party’s fall convention by contrasting what he sees as successes with his state versus the policies in California.
DeSantis, one of four Republican presidential hopefuls tapped to speak to Republicans in Anaheim this weekend, mostly stuck to cultural and public safety issues as he addressed about 400 attendees in a 30-minute address Friday night.
Related: At California Republican event, it’s former President Donald Trump who stars
Speaking to an audience that looked noticeably different from Trump’s — less MAGA hats and more formal and cocktail attire appropriate for a dinner event — DeSantis cracked a joke about his proximity to the Disney theme parks.
“I’m a little close to Disneyland — I didn’t know if they would let me come here,” he said, referring to the Disney-DeSantis political feud that started when he signed legislation last year that bans teachers from talking about sexual identification and gender identity in some elementary schools in Florida.
DeSantis drew the strongest applause and reactions — including from law enforcement who stood near the room’s entrances — when he touched on parental rights in education, an issue currently sensitive to many California parents as several local school districts debate policies like those that ban pride flags or would inform parents if their child may be transgender.
DeSantis said Florida parents have the right to know what is being taught to their children, attempting to draw a contrast between statewide education policies in his state and California.
“You as an adult can knock yourself out with adult material, but leave our kids alone,” DeSantis said.
Like Trump, DeSantis criticized California’s Democratic leaders — like Gov. Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris, a former U.S. senator — and its policies. He contrasted what he described as negatives in California, like the…
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