PolitiFact Rates DeSantis as ‘False’ for Attacks on Gillum

DeSantis’ Claims of a “Socialist Agenda” are False

In case you missed, GOP nominee Ron DeSantis’ misleading attacks on Mayor Andrew Gillum caught up to him, earning him a “false” rating from PolitiFact.
Read PolitiFact’s fact check below:
No, Florida’s Andrew Gillum does not have a far left socialist platform
In the race for Florida governor, Republican Ron DeSantis is trying to paint Democrat Andrew Gillum as so far out of the mainstream that Gillum “wants to turn Florida into Venezuela,” a reference to the failing socialist country.
[…]
Gillum’s beliefs
[…]
“I am a Democrat and an individual in this state who believes that we’ve had a rough ride these last several years,” Gillum said. “People are working, many of them harder than ever, and still can’t bring down a wage where they can make ends meet.”
For Floridians who are struggling, he said, “these labels mean nothing.”
After he won the primary, MSNBC’s Chuck Todd asked Gillum if he is a socialist. This time, he rejected the socialist label outright.
“No, I’m a Democrat. I ran as a Democrat, I am a Democrat. And, frankly, the values that I hold, I think, are consistent with the values of the Democratic Party. In fact, I think they are the values shared by the majority of Floridians.”
[…]
“I don’t think Gillum is talking about nationalizing industries and taking over hotels,” Gamarra said. “That’s just not going to happen.”
Our ruling
DeSantis said Gillum has a “far left socialist platform.”
The reality is Gillum’s platform resembles the policies being promoted by many Democrats. And his positions of expanding access to Medicare and raising the minimum wage have significant public support.
Gillum isn’t on the fringes of the political spectrum and certainly proposes nothing approaching turning “Florida into Venezuela,” which would mean the state taking over privately held businesses and large portions of the economy.
We rate this statement False.