Chicago City Wire

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told a Japanese delegation that the election of Brandon Johnson is bad for Chicago and will result in even more of an exodus of residents migrating from Chicago to Florida. 

DeSantis said Chicagoans will start moving out and "they’ll move to places like Naples and other parts of Florida."

“As the Governor of Florida, I watch elections around the country in the United States because if they go one direction, I know more people are going to move to Florida in response to that. And we’ve seen that just most recently with Chicago and their mayor election,” DeSantis said, according to Florida Politics. “Chicago used to be one of the greatest cities in America. It’s had huge problems and there’s really a major need to go a different direction, and they elect someone that’s going to keep going in the same bad direction at an accelerated pace.” 

DeSantis made similar statements earlier in the month in the immediate aftermath of Johnson’s election on April 4 noting “probably more residents” would come to his state.

“You know, I’ve got to follow some of the elections outside of Florida because it affects Florida. This Chicago Mayor, people are going to flee Chicago in even greater numbers,” DeSantis said at a press conference. “We are going to get more refugees as a result of that because it’s like, you know, you see what’s not working and you go even further in that direction. You know, you just wonder like, what is going on? But there’s no question that, I think, you’re going to continue to see a downward (trend) there and I think you’re going to see people”

DeSantis made the statements regarding Johnson while touring Japan with his wife Casey in advance of an expected announcement for a presidential run. The pair will be visiting four countries together on the trip aimed at strengthening economic relationships.

“We very much applaud your efforts to bolster your defenses. We understand it’s a tough neighborhood out here … and we really believe that a strong Japan is good for America, and a strong America is good for Japan,” DeSantis told Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, according to the New York Post. “We really appreciate what a great ally Japan has been to the US for many, many decades.” 

Before a meeting with Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi DeSantis said he expects trade between Japan and Florida to increase. 

“We believe Florida’s market is a great opportunity for additional investment from Japanese companies,” DeSantis said. “You are the number one foreign direct investment in America … which we appreciate, but you’re only number six in Florida, so I think we can make that go higher.” 

Florida is number in net migration, picking up 444,500 new residents in 2022, Tampa Bay Economic Development Council reported.

Meanwhile, Illinois lost residents for the ninth straight year in 2022, with 110,127 people moving out of the state, according to The Telegraph.

One of those residents leaving Illinois for Florida was billionaire Ken Griffin who moved Citadel Securities from Chicago to Miami. 

"Miami is a vibrant, growing metropolis that embodies the American Dream—embracing the possibilities of what can be achieved by a community working to build a future together. I am excited to have recently moved to Miami with my family and look forward to rapidly expanding Citadel in a city so rich in diversity and abounding with energy,” Griffin said in a memo published by Fortune, Chicago City Wire previously reported.

Citadel noted the move is based on insecurity in Chicago.  

“The firms are having difficulty recruiting top talent from across the world to Chicago given the rising and senseless violence in the city,” said Zia Ahmed, a Citadel spokesman, told the New York Times. “Talent wants to live in cities where they feel safe.”