Strategic Retreat from Florida

Is it time for progressives to shut the door on the Sunshine State?

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Florida has always held a special place in the imagination of Americans. A place where people can go for a walk in their flip flops and watch the sun set beneath the waves in January while the rest of the country is scraping ice off their windshields. It’s little wonder that Walt Disney chose Orlando for the site of his massive Disney World complex.

It’s a feeling I know well. After growing up in Kansas and spending 21 years in the military we decided to make Pensacola our forever home after retiring in 2014. However, in recent years the Sunshine State has more frequently seen dark clouds on the horizon, both literal and metaphorical. Many progressive minded people are starting to wonder, is it time to get out while the getting is still good?

It’s not a secret that Florida has become a right-wing haven the last couple of years under America’s most obnoxious governor. Without going too far down the rabbit hole of Ron DeSantis’ assault on decency, here’s a few of the highlights. He’s disenfranchised thousands by undermining voting rights reforms passed through the voter referendum. DeSantis violated Florida’s constitution by dividing up congressional districts with large numbers of African American voters to dilute the impact of…