New York City voters just made a decision that will echo for years.
Conservatives saw this coming from miles away.
And Ron DeSantis issued one warning to Donald Trump about the New York election that changed everything.
New York City made a decision that will haunt Democrats for years. Voters elected 34-year-old socialist Zohran Mamdani as their next mayor in a landslide.¹
DeSantis wasted no time laying out what this means for the rest of America.
The Florida governor appeared on Fox News with Sean Hannity and called the result "an incredible act of ballistic podiatry" – shooting yourself in the foot.²
This isn't just about New York anymore.
DeSantis connected the dots between Mamdani's victory and a larger pattern conservatives have watched unfold for years.
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1985901104450978297
DeSantis reveals the migration numbers Democrats don't want you to see
The numbers tell a story Democrats desperately want buried.
When DeSantis first took office as Florida's governor, Democrats held a 300,000-voter registration advantage in the Sunshine State.³
Today, Republicans hold a staggering 1.4 million voter advantage.⁴ DeSantis called that shift "profound" and said nobody has ever seen a change of that magnitude.⁵
The governor dropped a bombshell about who's been moving to Florida.
For all 49 other states since DeSantis took office, more Republicans than Democrats have migrated to Florida.⁶ Every single state.
That includes deep blue strongholds like Vermont, New York, and Illinois.⁷
Here's where it gets interesting for conservatives watching the political landscape shift.
DeSantis explained that center-right voters are fleeing jurisdictions run by radical leftists.
But when those moderate voters leave, the electorate that remains becomes even more liberal.⁸
That's exactly what happened in New York City. The city that once elected Rudy Giuliani just handed power to a democratic socialist who wants government-run grocery stores.
DeSantis didn't mince words about what drove this exodus.
The governor pointed to the "collapse of public safety" as the number one reason people flee blue cities.⁹
Mamdani has a troubling record on law enforcement. In 2020, he called the NYPD "this rogue agency" and demanded it be defunded while slamming police as "racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety."¹⁰
The new mayor has since apologized for those comments.¹¹
But voters wondering about his true priorities just watched him win on a platform of reducing police funding while promising free buses, city-run grocery stores, and a rent freeze paid for by jacking up taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals.¹²
Florida Republicans draw the line on importing New York's failed policies
DeSantis made clear that Florida welcomes New Yorkers fleeing Mamdani's socialist agenda.
But there's a catch.
"I've already said if they take that [Columbus statue] from Manhattan, we'll take it in Florida," DeSantis stated on Fox News.¹³ "Hey, if they want to put the Statue of Liberty in Lake Okeechobee, we'll get that done as well."
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia reinforced the message with a blunt warning following Mamdani's victory.
"It's a sad day for NYC," Ingoglia said.¹⁴ "The 'Big Apple' is now government-issued and will be rationed accordingly."
Then came the kicker.
"P.S. If you want to come to the Sunshine State leave your leftist ideology home," Ingoglia declared.¹⁵ "Don't New York our Florida."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott joined the conversation with his own style.
On the eve of Election Day, Abbott posted on X that he would "impose a 100% tariff on anyone moving to Texas from NYC" after polls closed.¹⁶
https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1985417851037991321
DeSantis acknowledged that not every Floridian will be thrilled with the influx.
"People have talked about putting a tariff on people moving in at this point, because so many have done so," the governor said.¹⁷
But he sees a silver lining for Republicans nationally.
DeSantis predicted that Mamdani will become "the most prominent Democrat in America" the day he takes office.¹⁸
"Voters across the country will be able to watch his leftist agenda in action and know that his path is the Democrat path nationally," DeSantis explained.¹⁹ "Will be good for Republicans, bad for New York City."
President Trump echoed these concerns from the White House.
Trump, who was born in New York City, threatened to withhold federal funds to the city under a Mamdani administration.²⁰
"If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required," Trump said before the election.²¹
After Mamdani's victory, Trump predicted that "Miami will soon be the refuge of those fleeing communism in New York City."²²
The battle lines are drawn.
DeSantis and other Republican governors are watching to see if New Yorkers fleeing Mamdani's policies learned their lesson about what happens when you elect socialists.
Or if they'll bring the same failed ideology that destroyed their previous home to red states that still believe in freedom and free enterprise.
¹ NPR, "Mamdani wins New York City mayoral race, in a historic victory for progressives," November 5, 2025.
² Florida Voice News, "DeSantis says New York voters 'shot themselves in the foot' by electing Mamdani," November 5, 2025.
³ – ⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Ibid.
⁸ Florida Politics, "Ron DeSantis says Florida migration helped get the left elected in New York, New Jersey," November 5, 2025.
⁹ First Coast News, "DeSantis: Mamdani's win as mayor will push New Yorkers to Florida," November 6, 2025.
¹⁰ Ibid.
¹¹ Ibid.
¹² CBS News New York, "Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayoral election after energizing young voters with focus on affordability," November 5, 2025.
¹³ WFLA, "DeSantis, Trump say New Yorkers will flee to Florida after Mamdani win," November 6, 2025.
¹⁴ Florida Voice News, "DeSantis says New York voters 'shot themselves in the foot' by electing Mamdani," November 5, 2025.
¹⁵ Ibid.
¹⁶ Fox News, "Abbott vows tariff on New Yorkers after Election Day," November 4, 2025.
¹⁷ Fox News, "DeSantis blasts NYC's 'ballistic podiatry' after Zohran Mamdani wins mayor's race and Florida expects exodus," November 6, 2025.
¹⁸ Breitbart, "Gov. DeSantis Asks If Florida Should Impose Tariffs on Fleeing New Yorkers or Build a Wall," November 5, 2025.
¹⁹ Ibid.
²⁰ Washington Times, "Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatens tariffs on New Yorkers moving to Texas to escape Zohran Mamdani," November 4, 2025.
²¹ Ibid.
²² Fox News, "DeSantis blasts NYC's 'ballistic podiatry' after Zohran Mamdani wins mayor's race and Florida expects exodus," November 6, 2025.
