MAGA-aligned U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) is being criticized for his reaction to Florida’s recent jobs report. The state’s Department of Commerce released January 2026 workforce data, which revealed that the “unemployment rate rose to 4.5% (up 0.2% from Dec.)” with “499k unemployed out of 11.12M labor force. Private sector: +23,800 jobs month-over-month, but -9,000 over the past 12 months.”
[NOTE: The national average unemployment rate is 4.3% (March 2026).]
Scott responded to the report on social media: “It’s concerning to see Florida losing so many private-sector jobs in today’s report. Florida must stay focused on creating an environment where our state remains the best place in the country to live, work, and raise a family, and that starts with creating more jobs.”
Gee I wonder who wouldn’t want to relocate their family to a place that pays teachers the least, drops SAT scores, allows Prager U curriculum, demonizes & threatens LGBTQ families, housing prices are out of control, one of the highest inflation rates in the country, the governor… https://t.co/KBb9kUB2Qu
— Jennifer Jenkins (@Jenkins4Florida) April 9, 2026
Jennifer Jenkins, the Democratic Party nominee trying to unseat incumbent Rep. Randy Fine in Florida’s deeply red 6th congressional district election, replied: “Gee I wonder who wouldn’t want to relocate their family to a place that pays teachers the least, dropping SAT scores, allows Prager U curriculum, demonizes and threatens LGBTQ families, housing prices are out of control, one of the highest inflation rates in the country, the governor bans Sharia Law before fixing homeowners insurance, builds a concentration camp in the Everglades on the taxpayers dime, uses taxpayer money to stop citizen led amendments for abortion and legalization of weed… need I continue?”
Rick Wilson of the Lincoln Project also replied to Scott: “Gosh, maybe decades of culture war [expletive] and open corruption in Tallahassee could be a factor. Ya think?”
[NOTE: The Florida jobs report comes as Republican leaders continue to disagree on a state budget. Governor Ron DeSantis proposed a $117.4 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026–27, prioritizing $16.75 billion in reserves and $250 million for debt reduction. Local WCTV reported that “a special session to pass a budget still hasn’t been scheduled, but lawmakers have until June 30 to get it done.”]