Ron DeSantis labels NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani ‘realtor of the year’ for encouraging taxpayers to move to Florida

DeSantis Critiques NYC Mayor and Highlights Florida’s Growth

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida recently named Zoran Mamdani one of his “Real Estate Agents of the Year” while humorously suggesting that New York City’s mayor, whom he described as socialist, would continue to push taxpayers toward Florida.

This remark came during a fireside chat at the 2026 Milken Institute World Congress. Throughout the discussion, DeSantis, who was a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, criticized the increasing tax burdens and inefficiencies in major cities like New York, Chicago, and California.

“It’s not great, I think, when a mayor is elected and people feel they have no choice but to leave the city,” DeSantis stated regarding Mamdani. “We keep seeing these issues lead people to Florida, and yet they choose leaders who exacerbate problems, instead of solving them.”

Last month, DeSantis had already taken aim at Mamdani due to a widely circulated social media post where he appeared in front of a billionaire’s penthouse, promoting Governor Kathy Hochul’s controversial property tax targeting nonresident-owned homes over $5 million.

“The policies initiated by that mayor won’t succeed,” DeSantis remarked, referring to the migration of Ken Griffin’s hedge fund Citadel from Chicago to Miami in 2022. This transition apparently provided a notable boost to Florida’s economy.

“(Griffin) brought jobs, business, and substantial tax revenues to our state,” he noted. “He’s probably donated hundreds of millions to various organizations in Florida. If he weren’t a resident here, that money would likely go elsewhere.”

DeSantis also claimed that Mamdani’s critical video targeting Griffin was crossing a line, suggesting it might deter people from wanting to stay in New York.

As the political landscape shifts towards progressivism within the Democratic Party, those who generate wealth are increasingly under scrutiny from taxes and harsh criticisms. DeSantis highlighted this trend during the conversation, focusing specifically on Mamdani as a prime example.

“If I were to name a real estate agent of the year, it wouldn’t be from Florida,” DeSantis asserted. “Mayors in cities like New York and Chicago, along with certain governors, effectively serve as the best advocates for Florida. We’ve seen that, and people are voting with their feet.”

When asked about the possibility of running for president in 2028, DeSantis expressed openness to that idea. “Who knows? You just never know,” he stated. “I’m in my mid-40s. There’s likely still a lot of time ahead.”

DeSantis also mentioned that when he took office, there were 300,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans in Florida. Now, Republicans have a lead of 1.5 million voters.

He added that Florida’s economy has seen impressive growth, increasing from $1 trillion to $1.8 trillion during his time in office. He proudly noted that school choice has become universally available and crime rates have dropped to their lowest in half a century.