DeSantis’ office calls Brandon Johnson’s Chicago victory ‘extremely saddening’

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Staff in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office responded to the news of left-wing candidate Brandon Johnson being elected as the next Chicago mayor.

The mayoral race has been inundated by concerns from residents about the crime rate. That distress reportedly led to current Democrat Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s downfall as she sought reelection.

Johnson faced moderate Democrat Paul Vallas in the runoff Tuesday.

In the past, mayor-elect Johnson has reportedly faced questions about past support for the “defund the police” movement. In 2020, he reportedly said defunding the police is an “actual, real political goal.”

Johnson also sponsored a nonbinding resolution that said money should be redirected from policing and incarceration into social services.

“Lori Lightfoot hasn’t made Chicago safer, but I will,” Johnson said in one of his ads. “It’s time to get smart, not just tough.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary Bryan Griffin called the election “saddening.”

“It is extremely saddening to watch America’s great cities fall by the willful destruction of leftists,” he said on Twitter.

Deputy press secretary Jeremy Redfern also commented on the race.

In February, DeSantis met with law enforcement officers in New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

Florida is experienced a 50-year record low crime rate, and year-over-year crime in Florida is down nearly 10%, according to the governor’s office.

The governor previously enacted the most pro-law enforcement policy package in the nation. The legislation encourages Floridians to join the law enforcement profession and incentivizes out-of-state law enforcement professionals to bring their skills to the Sunshine State.