Gov. Ron DeSantis visits Sarasota, calls VP Harris 'vapid,' and defends election night

A defiant Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took a hard swing at Vice President Kamala Harris, discussed school board election night results, and highlighted Hurricane Debby recovery efforts during a stop in Sarasota on Wednesday.

During his press conference, DeSantis called Vice President Kamala Harris "vapid" while criticizing her economic proposals, said election night losses in counties like Sarasota and Manatee are offset by victories in more Democratic areas, and highlighted how the Hope Florida program is helping Sarasota residents recover from Hurricane Debby.

Politics: Voting results for Sarasota and Manatee counties

DeSantis touts Florida economy, slams Harris economic proposals

DeSantis touted his efforts to retire about 36% of Florida's historical debt during his tenure as governor to set up a scathing five-minute critique of proposals made by Harris while out on the campaign trail, labeling her plan to ban price gouging as "price control."

"We are going to end up having bread lines to be able to get food," DeSantis said.

"Price control is a joke," he said.

The governor also criticized proposals to tax unrealized capital gains, saying those proposals could impact Florida homeowners.

"Taxing unrealized gains is a truly imbecilic and insane policy," he said. "Just think about what that would do to businesses, individuals, property owners. It would put this country into a depression. It would be the worst economic policy that's ever been done. But this is what she is proposing, so I'm just saying it would hit Florida really hard because we've had people whose homes have gone up in value a lot."

"This is truly insane, and it's emblematic I think, and reflective, of a candidate who is effectively an empty vessel," he said. "A candidate that is vapid, a vice president known more for her word salads than she is for any tangible accomplishments."

DeSantis addresses election night losses

DeSantis touted the success he's had endorsing or appointing school board members that align with far-right beliefs to school boards across the state despite notable losses during Tuesday night's primary.

DeSantis-backed candidates struggled at the polls during Tuesday's primary. In Sarasota, voters ousted incumbent Karen Rose, who has aligned herself with controversial board member and Moms for Liberty founder Bridget Ziegler.

More: Sarasota School Board election: Tom Edwards wins, Liz Barker defeats incumbent Rose

Also: Knight upsets DeSantis-pick Rainford in for Sarasota County Commission District 3 seat

DeSantis said the election night losses are offset by previous success and headway made in some Democratic counties.

"We want to support school board candidates ... that believe in putting students first, that respect the rights of parents, and that believe schools should educate not indoctrinate," DeSantis said.

DeSantis also addressed the victory of Democrat Andrew Warren, who overwhelmingly won his primary race on Tuesday night in a bid to win the Hillsborough County State Attorney seat once again after DeSantis ousted him in a controversial move in 2022. DeSantis did not say whether he would remove Warren from office once again if elected.

"I think that will work itself out," he said.

Hope Florida program kicks into gear

The Florida Department of Emergency Management is adopting the Hope Florida program model to connect residents impacted by disasters with community resources, and Tropical Storm Debby is the first storm the program has kicked into gear.

Hope Florida is a program started at the Department of Children and Families that helps connect residents with community, faith-based, private, and nonprofit organizations that offer public assistance. The state has also expanded the model to other agencies like the Department of Elder Affairs and Veterans Affairs.

"This expansion is going to be called Activate Hope," DeSantis said. "This will travel. Activate Hope will go directly to the communities impacted by the disaster to help connect Floridians with outside resources to provide food, household goods, home repairs and more."

First Lady Casey DeSantis helped spearhead the program and said the program can connect residents with resources with just a simple phone call. Those affected by Debby can also www.hopeflorida.com for assistance.

"It makes perfect sense that it would be a part of emergency management," she said. "You call that number and you are going to be able to talk to someone who will navigate you to be able to find whatever you might need... It has been very heartwarming to be able to see this expand and grow by leaps and bounds."

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Gov. Ron DeSantis visits Sarasota, calls VP Harris 'vapid,' and defends election night