Gov. DeSantis gets political as he kicks off the Florida State Fair

TAMPA, Fla. - Gov. Ron DeSantis weighed in on the hotbed political issues of the morning at the 2025 Florida State State Fair: crazy food offerings.

Governor Ron DeSantis launching the 2025 Florida State Fair at the Florida Fairgrounds.

"I'm a little conflicted because when I see something like cotton candy tea and these Jolly Rancher creamsicles, I can make my kids pretty happy if daddy delivers that back to them today."

Launching the fair

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DeSantis was in Tampa on Thursday morning to launch the 2025 Florida State Fair, which started at Tampa’s Fairgrounds at 11 a.m today, and will run through Feb. 17.

The fair will be open every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

What did DeSantis say was holding him back from bringing home some sweet treats for his kids?

WATCH: 'Powering on' the State Fair

The eventual sugar rush he predicted they’d have by sunset.

"The problem is, by about 8:45 or 9:00 at night, I do not think they will end up being asleep. I think they'll be running off the wall," DeSantis said, describing it as a "game-time decision."

For his part, DeSantis said he’d opt for some of the more savory food offerings at this year's fair.

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"They now have this year a soul food, egg roll, mac and cheese, chicken and collard greens, a deep-fried egg. That may be something I bring home for me and the first lady," DeSantis said.

Some of the new food being offered at the 2025 Florida State Fair. Courtesy: Florida State Fair,

WATCH: Florida State Fair footage from the 80s and 90s

Getting political

Big picture view:

It wasn’t all jokes for DeSantis, who took time to weigh in on national and state politics.

Touting Florida’s economy, DeSantis said, "Our economy has grown 30% since 2019. That's twice as what the nation's economy as a whole has done."

He contrasted that to the federal government, which he described as bloated and overloaded with bureaucracy.

READ: Governor DeSantis unveils $115.6B proposed budget for 2025-26 fiscal year

"What you’re seeing with Elon Musk, they’re going into the agencies, these DOGE guys, and they’re identifying and rooting out taxpayer's dollars that are being wasted by the hundreds of millions, in some billions of dollars depending on the agency," DeSantis said.

DeSantis didn’t stop there, weighing in on topics ranging from emergency response to transgender issues to Florida’s special legislative session last week.

The Source: This story was written by FOX 13 Digital.

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