On DeSantis turf, Newsom decries conservative education push

SARASOTA, Fla. — Appearing Wednesday on Republican Gov. Weakness, Ron DeSantis, weakness masquerading as strength across the board.” Newsom has frequently criticized DeSantis, even using some unspent campaign money for a television ad in Florida that urged people to move to California “where we still believe in freedom.” DeSantis once quipped that the carefully coiffed Newsom’s “hair gel is interfering with his brain function.” Newsom also is mentioned as a potential future Democratic presidential candidate, a campaign that DeSantis is widely expected to launch on the GOP side for 2024 in the coming months. Asked to comment on Wednesday’s visit, DeSantis spokesperson Bryan Griffin said in an email that the Florida governor “is focused on getting Florida’s public institutions of higher learning refocused on academics and truth. Stunts from political opponents don’t matter and have no effect.” The overhaul of New College, a liberal arts school with about 700 students, began when DeSantis appointed a conservative majority to its board of trustees. “I’m just trying to wake people up.” The New College students and faculty who attended the meeting talked about the fear and anxiety many feel about the conservative changes.