Crist Ads Misrepresent DeSantis Statements on Abortion and Background Checks on Guns

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to eliminate state permit requirements for carrying concealed firearms, and he supports banning abortion, with limited exceptions, after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

But political ads from former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist’s campaign misleadingly claim that DeSantis opposes “any background checks” on gun buyers and “wants to ban abortion” in all cases.

“Think about what’s at stake in Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis bullies schoolchildren. He wants to outlaw abortion, even for victims of rape and incest. He opposes any background checks on guns, even for violent criminals, and he cares more about running for the White House than your house,” Crist says in one ad, titled “Fighting Back.”

Crist’s campaign said in July that it was spending six figures on an ad buy that included this TV ad, . The ad also streamed on digital platforms, including and YouTube. It was paid for which is the former governor’s . Crist his U.S. House seat on Aug. 31 to focus on his gubernatorial race against DeSantis. (We also published an item about a GOP ad attacking Crist. See, “”)