Florida Gov Slaps Back At Soros-Backed Latino Media Network

LMN Principals Valencia, Rocketto

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' reelection campaign is hitting back at attempts by liberal billionaire George Soros to "manipulate" the midterm elections by purchasing an ad buy on two Miami radio stations being acquired by a new left-wing radio network targeted toward Hispanic Americans, reports Fox News Digital.

"Governor Ron DeSantis is taking [on] Soros on his own turf with a Spanish language ad buy on the Soros network, serving as a PSA to Hispanic Floridians to warn of the pro-socialism, radical agenda behind The Latino Media Network," read a statement the DeSantis campaign provided to Fox News Digital.

George Soros

The formation of the Latino Media Network, a new network set to be made up of 18 Hispanic radio stations across 10 different markets, was announced last week, and was partially financed by Lakestar Finance, an investment group affiliated with Soros Fund Management.

Jess Morales Rocketto, a former Hillary for America and AFL-CIO employee, and Stephanie Valencia, a former White House staffer during the Obama administration, are heading the venture, and say their purchase across the multitude of media markets will give them "access to one-third of the Hispanic population" within the U.S, according to an interview conducted by Axios.

The investment project comes as concern from Democrats continues to grow over the party's loss in support from large swaths of Hispanic voters.

In April, a poll from Quinnipiac University showed President Biden's approval among Hispanics sitting at just 26%, appearing to solidify earlier polls showing Hispanic support sharply slipping from Democrats and increasing toward Republicans.

The new DeSantis ad, which will air on WAQI-AM and WQBA-AM, warns voters about the media purchase and touts his stance against "leftist disinformation" as he continues the "fight against socialism in America."

Ron DeSantis

"Warning, voters! The Left is taking control of our local media. Billionaire George Soros, known for financing extreme leftist causes, is now financing the purchase of Hispanic radio stations right here in Miami," the translated version of the ad says. 

"They are coming with their ideological agenda," it continues. "Soros and his minions know what this community represents in the fight against socialism in America. This community will not get confused. Under Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership Florida is standing against the corporate media and leftist disinformation."

"The Soros-funded radical Left is running a scheme to manipulate local media in Florida to push their Marxist agenda on voters. In Florida, we reject the professional Left and their attempt to infiltrate our state and will always stand for truth and freedom," DeSantis said.

The 18 stations in the deal are a combined set of AM and FM stations in the largest US markets, and 8 of the top 10 Latino markets, reaching 33% of U.S. Latinos.  The stations included are:

• New York - WADO-AM 1280
• Los Angeles - KTNQ-AM 1020
• Chicago - WRTO-AM 1200
• Dallas  - KFLC-AM 1270; KFZO-FM 99.1
• Houston - KLAT-AM 1010
• Miami - WAQI-AM 710; WQBA-AM 1140
• Fresno - KOND-FM 107.5; KRDA-FM 92.1; KLLE-FM 107.9
• Las Vegas - KLSQ-AM 870; KISF-FM 103.5; KRGT-FM 99.3
• San Antonio - KXTN-AM 1350
• McAllen - KGBT-AM 1530; KGBT-FM 98.5; KBTQ-FM 96.1

Transition of the stations will happen following FCC approval and a one year transition agreement between TelevisaUnivision and Latino Media Network, which is expected to conclude in Q4 of 2023.