For that event, the governor took questions from reporters about
his influence over Republican leaders in Florida.
Florida Democrats and a political experts say the governor's ability
to pass policy has been weakened following his run for
the White House.
But the governor disagrees with that, as you might imagine.
News Channel 8 political reporter Ty Russell joining us now
in studio.
He has more about that, Ty.
Yes, indeed I do.
Keith and Jen, Florida Democrats, told me GOP lawmakers feel
more confident now speaking about the possible negative impacts of
some of the governor's policies.
But the governor dismisses this debate over his influence and
says it's just part of this week's news cycle and
expects the narrative to change now.
Despite the recent controversy over state parks, the governor also
maintains his policies are still popular among Floridians.
Governor DeSantis is really losing his grip on Florida.
Political expert Tara Newsome says bipartisan opposition to changing state
parks proves that claim.
When his presidential race crashed and burned, I think many
legislators and voters started to scratch their head and said,
are the policies that he's bringing to Florida really good
for us?
The governor denies ever approving the state parks plans.
Prominent Republicans like Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott question
the idea.
Today.
The governor ordered state Environmental Protection leaders to scrap any
additional proposals involving state parks.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Freed has also noticed a
shift.
His influence inside the Republican Party continues to get diminished
because quite honestly, he's putting out policies that don't align
with the people of the state.
And it's finally, finally the Republican Party and the legislators
are starting to push back on his aggressive and extreme
agenda.
Freed cited some of the governor's school board backed candidates
losing races, the spending controversy involving University of Florida's previous
president and restrictions on books in schools.
Governor DeSantis denies he had control over the GOP in
the first place.
Instead, he says Republicans and most voters supported many of
his policies.
The reason we've been successful isn't because I had a
grip.
It's because I was standing for things like the issue
you just mentioned, like some of the things we've done
with illegal immigration, like the economic policy that that people
recognize were good policy.
The governor also dismissed this debate over his influence in
Florida as just chatter.
He went on to say during COVID, many people were
against his policies at the time.
But he says today he's being applauded for it.
I'm Ty Russell 8 on your side.
Thank you, Ty.