People are flocking to Florida. I'd love for progressives moving there to influence the politics

[In It to Win It]

USA Today via Yahoo News

I was not surprised when Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio were reelected this past week. I was in South Florida the week before, and everyone I met, many of who were new to the state, was voting for them.

When I lived there a decade ago people would tell me they were in Florida for the weather, or to retire. I, myself, fled the frigid winters of Chicago for the Sunshine State's well...sunshine. But that doesn't seem to be the main reason why people are moving there anymore. I'll get into that later.

I have one request for any Democrats and socially progressive independent voters relocating to the Sunshine State. Go for the tax laws, but please, stay and influence the social politics.

Good for business, bad for social progress

hat reputation as a pro-business state is a big part of what helped DeSantis win his gubernatorial race against former Gov. Charlie Crist, who was governor when I was in law school in South Florida ten years ago. My former home, which was once the nation's largest swing state, is now solidly red.

The growing number of registered Republicans and the rapid growth of people relocating to Florida from blue states serves as a reminder that money talks, and if people are looking for a place to grow their business, they may be willing to overlook backward social politics.