MIAMI, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that people and capital are moving to Florida in unprecedented numbers, driven by the state’s policies and by proposals in other states that he called punitive to wealth creators.
“Florida has had more adjusted gross income move into our state since I’ve been governor than has ever moved into any state in the history of the United States, even adjusted for inflation,” DeSantis said at a Miami conference.
DeSantis credited Florida’s business-friendly measures, including tort reform and changes to the state judiciary, for helping spur the influx. He said the movement of people and businesses also reflects reactions elsewhere to tax proposals such as a proposed 5% wealth tax in California.
“It’s a bad way to tax,” he said of the proposal, criticizing its focus on unrealized gains and the broader implications for owners of large equity stakes. “We’ve seen the flight of really, really significant folks, into Florida, many of them here in the Miami area.”
DeSantis also defended the idea of interstate competition for residents and investment, pointing to states such as Tennessee, Texas and Georgia as part of a regional dynamic that he said benefits the broader economy.
“We’ve shown a great framework for how you can succeed and really grow your economies and give people more opportunities,” he said, thanking attendees for coming.