Advocates and lawmakers warned against the spread of the far-right ideology embraced by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his followers ahead of a speaking appearance by DeSantis near Harrisburg on Saturday.
DeSantis, who has said he plans to run for president in 2024, is set to speak at the conservative Pennsylvania Leadership Conference at the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill, Cumberland County.
He is favored by some conservatives as a Republican contender for the presidential nomination.
Democratic state lawmakers from Florida and Pennsylvania decried DeSantis’ policies that have targeted voting rights, abortion access, immigrants, and grade school curricula on racism, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Florida state Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, D-Orange, said that as DeSantis has pursued his agenda, the state faces a deepening housing crisis, skyrocketing rents, soaring utility costs and attacks on consumer rights.