The GOP has gained more influence in a former Democratic stronghold in Florida, turning it red. Republican Tom Carney successfully changed the political landscape in Delray Beach by winning the mayor’s office, according to Florida’s Voice. This area, located just 50 miles north of Miami, had previously shown strong support for Biden in the 2020 election.
“Republican Tom Carney has been elected Mayor of Delray Beach! That’s ANOTHER flip for the @FloridaGOP tonight. Congrats Mayor-elect Carney! #KeepFloridaWinning,” the state GOP noted on the X platform after Carney’s win.
Carney’s campaign platform, as detailed on his website, includes goals such as addressing overdevelopment and traffic congestion, promoting public safety, upholding fiscal responsibility, and working towards property tax reductions. Furthermore, he aims to preserve the unique quality of life for Delray Beach residents and improve the accessibility of city hall. Throughout his campaign, Carney emphasized issues like gridlock, rising costs, and government inefficiency.
According to a report by Florida’s Voice, the state Democratic Party’s attempts to secure more victories in local elections were unsuccessful, with Republicans winning three out of seven targeted races, including one in the competitive city of Clearwater.
“While there were many local races, eyes were focused on Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried’s ‘Take Back Local’ candidates,” the outlet reported, adding:
“Four of the party’s candidates indeed won, defending blue areas. Those include George Oliver for Ocoee City Commission, Andy Thomson and Yvette Drucker in Boca Raton City Council, and Maria Rodriguez in Pembroke Pines.
“However, the other three lost. Of those, one was defending a blue Clearwater City Council seat: Democrat-backed Mark Bunker, the incumbent, was unseated by Pinellas GOP-backed Ryan Cotton.
“The other was Javante Scott for Clearwater City Council, seeking the open seat formerly held by a Democratic-backed candidate. There as well, Republicans flipped the seat, with the victory of Michael Mannino.”
“The [Democrats] and [Fried] made a big deal about their ‘take back local’ team which was just defending their own democratic seats,” said Evan Power, chairman of the Florida GOP, the outlet reported. “Well we defeated 42% of them.”
In the midst of Haiti’s collapse and the anticipated arrival of illegal migrants in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis is taking proactive measures. He has made it clear that these migrants will not be staying in his state for an extended period of time.
During an interview with Dana Loesch on TheFirst TV, the former 2024 GOP presidential contender revealed that he has instructed 250 Florida National Guard troops and state troopers to be deployed along Florida’s coast. This deployment is in preparation for the expected influx of migrants from Haiti, as the country continues to disintegrate following the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Governor DeSantis acknowledged that he cannot simply send the Haitians back to their own country. As a result, he is considering an alternative solution: sending them to Martha’s Vineyard. This exclusive Massachusetts enclave, known for its deep-blue political leanings, is home to some of the nation’s elite, including former President Barack Obama.
“The problem when you get to a situation like Florida is if they have people in our state and we wanted to fly them, say, back to Haiti, you have to get clearance to be able to do that. If you wanted to fly somebody to a South American country, wherever they’re from, it becomes a little bit more difficult because the federal government’s gonna tell the host countries not to accept our planes,” DeSantis said. “So we’ve gone through these iterations of what can we do as states.”
“I definitely think we can help put them back over the border if they come across in Texas and Arizona,” he continued. “So I’d be willing to help do that. I think that the states really have no other choice to do that at that point. It’s a little bit different for a maritime state like us. That’s why we’ve really got to get them before they reach the shores, and that’s why we’re working so hard to do that.”
“Although I will say this,” DeSantis added. “We do have our transport program, also, that’s going to be operational. So, uh, Haitians land in the Florida Keys, their next stop very well may be Martha’s Vineyard,” he added.
WATCH:
DeSantis on what he may do with incoming Haitian illegal immigrants: “We do have our transport program, also, that’s going to be operational. So, uh, Haitians land in the Florida Keys, their next stop very well may be Martha’s Vineyard." pic.twitter.com/3Q9AZEhFDq
— USA Features Media (@UsaFeatures) March 21, 2024
