KEEP FLORIDA FREE: DeSantis releases first re-election ad

Incumbent and front-runner Ron DeSantis released his first tv spot of his re-election campaign on Thursday with a powerful ad highlighting the most memorable aspects of his governorship.

The governor's wife posted the ad to Twitter, noting that he "has received thousands of letters from across the state and around the world thanking him for his leadership."

"I can tell you this," she added, "he's only begun to fight."

In the ad, DeSantis is depicted receiving a bevy of thank you letters from constituents, while their contents are read out loud by a diverse cast.

"Dear Governor DeSantis, I wanted to write and thank you for working so hard for the citizens of Florida," the first letter reads.

Others thanked him for "keeping Floridians free and thriving," and following through with his promises.

Much of the ad focuses on DeSantis' handling of the pandemic, with letters touching on his decision to let businesses stay open, keep kids in school, and allow people to take monoclonal antibodies.

Another notes that watching DeSantis "beat back the woke liberal media" made him "so proud to be a Floridian."

The ad concludes with DeSantis entering a packed auditorium to the sound of cheers.

DeSantis has surged in popularity over the past two years for his stance on issues such as Covid, critical race theory, and gender ideology.

On Thursday, the governor announced that he would be suspending Soros-backed state attorney Andrew Warren.

DeSantis alleged that Warren had been "neglecting his duties" by ignoring the laws of the state.

"We are not going to allow this pathogen that's been around the country of ignoring the law," he said. "We are not going to let that get a foothold here in the state of Florida. We are going to make sure that our laws are enforced and that no individual prosecutor puts himself above the law, and I can tell you the states and the localities that have allowed this to happen, they are ruing the day."