‘Red State’ Republicans Are Subverting America First Priorities

When more than 77 million Americans delivered resounding victories for Republicans in the 2024 election, they gave the GOP a mandate to implement an America First agenda that serves the interests of the people. So, why are GOP lawmakers in so-called “red states” working overtime to deny their voters’ wishes?

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis is having to fight members of his own party to push through legislation that would assist the Trump administration’s deportation operations. The governor’s proposal includes policies enhancing penalties against illegal aliens, greater state cooperation with federal immigration authorities, election integrity safeguards, and more.

Rather than heed DeSantis’ call for a special session to deliver on the agenda Floridians voted for, the legislature’s GOP leadership took it upon themselves to gavel into a separate special session on Monday to advance a seemingly watered-down version of the legislation the governor requested. DeSantis noted in a Monday tweet he is “glad the Legislature’s bill includes many of [his] proposals.” But the governor argued that the bill put forward by Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton is “substantially weaker than the proposals [he] outlined and that are necessary to ensure that Florida leads on fulfilling the Trump Administration’s mandate to enforce immigration law and deport illegal aliens.”

“We need strong immigration legislation that ensures Florida is doing everything it can to assist this important federal mission,” DeSantis wrote. “The Legislature’s bill is a bait-and-switch tactic trying to create the illusion of an illegal immigration crack down, when it does anything but. It is an insult to name such a weak bill after President Trump, who has been so strong on this issue.”

According to Perez, the bill would designate the Florida commissioner of Agriculture as the “state’s chief immigration officer.” The position is currently held by Wilton Simpson, who reportedly expressed concern that a 2023 state immigration bill including restrictions for employing foreign nationals could produce “unintended consequences” for businesses reliant on illegal immigrant labor.

Simpson’s “business holdings include a sizable egg farm,” according to Orlando Weekly.

During his tenure as Senate president (2020-2022), Simpson notably fought DeSantis over the governor’s veto of a congressional map approved by the GOP-controlled legislature. Despite objections from GOP legislative leadership, the map put forward by DeSantis and ultimately approved by the legislature “netted Florida Republicans four additional congressional seats on Election Day [2022] and essentially helped the GOP win the tiny House majority,” according to Politico.

A Nationwide Problem

But Florida is hardly the only “red state” where Republicans are seemingly working against the interests of their voters.

In Texas, moderate members of the House Republican caucus sided with Democrats this month in electing GOP Rep. Dustin Burrows as speaker. This was done despite a majority of the House GOP caucus endorsing Republican Rep. David Cook, who enjoyed support from Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton.

As noted by local media, Burrows is an ally of former GOP Speaker Dade Phelan, who allowed Democrats to chair House committees and stymied numerous conservative legislative priorities.

According to Texas Scorecard, the House rules spearheaded by Burrows and rushed through the lower chamber last week “without debate or opportunities for amendments” effectively “mandate that all House committee vice-chairs be Democrats and expand their authority.” A Democrat lawyer reportedly helped author the package, according to the outlet.

Similar maneuvers empowering Democrat legislators were also reported in Montana’s and South Carolina’s respective GOP-controlled legislatures.