Florida Republican Mayor Slams DeSantis: “He’s a Dictator” & Floridians are “Paying the Price”

Ron DeSantis is getting widespread criticism for his abysmal response to COVID-19 — from more than 800 in-state doctors, local public school officials, parents, major industries in Florida, front-line workers, and now, even from prominent elected officials in his own party. Carlos Hernandez, the Republican mayor of Hialeah, a community in Miami-Dade County, attacked DeSantis for prohibiting local governments from implementing life-saving COVID-19 protections.

Hernandez told the Washington Post DeSantis is a “dictator,” and said it’s Floridians who are “paying the price” for his lack of leadership.

This comes as cases and hospitalizations in Florida reach record highs — including among children. DeSantis also recently said he wasn’t even aware Florida requested hundreds of ventilators from the federal government.

DGA Deputy Communications Director Sam Newton stated, “As the virus spreads across Florida, Ron DeSantis continues to fight with seemingly everyone and everything instead of bringing people together to save lives, keep kids in school and safely grow the economy. With this growing crisis and sinking approval numbers, it’s no surprise that now he’s also facing backlash from Republican leaders.”