Scott Singer Makes His Pitch To Unseat Jared Moskowitz

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1:03Hi everybody, I'm Brittany Lewis, a breaking news reporter here at Forbes. Joining me now is Scott Singer. He's the former mayor of Boca Raton and he's currently the Republican running against Congressman Jared Moskowitz to represent Florida's 25th District. Mayor, thanks so much for coming on. Thank you for having me. You are running in one of the most competitive congressional races in this election cycle. And like I said, you are trying to unseat Congressman Jared Moskowitz, But this isn't your first brush with politics. You served as the mayor of Boca Raton for eight years. So to start off the conversation, what made you want to serve in Congress?

1:38I love my public service, trying to make a difference in my community and succeeding. As mayor, I cut taxes, red tape and crime, and grew high-paying jobs. That's actually what motivated me to make a more thriving city for young people and people of all ages. And we've done that. And I'm concerned about the direction of our country. I was encouraged by a lot of people to take a look at this seat and did so because I don't want our country going the wrong direction. I'm horrified like so many people in our district who fled communism to see socialism take root in one of the major parties in America.

2:08And it has. I want to continue building on the success of results that matter as I did in the city. Lower taxes, strong business presence, strong public safety. We have a secure border, which we didn't have under the last two years, before two years ago, under President Biden, with more than 10 million people coming across. That had an impact in our community and communities across America. Murderers, rapists, hardened criminals, thousands of them coming in without proper vetting, which led to fentanyl deaths, human trafficking, and terrible crimes that we've seen in the media. We need to make sure our borders remain secure.

2:44We need to continue the success in tax cuts and cutting the burden of the federal government's spending. Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress are to blame for the overspending that has caused some of the inflation now. It's reached higher levels under Biden. It's been brought down recently in the next few years, but we need to get that more under control, and cutting spending is one way to do it. But overall, I just love public service and want it to make a difference for our country. And we will get into all those issues you touched on. But first, I want to talk about your race specifically with Congressman Moskowitz.

3:18And he won his primary resoundingly by double digits against a DSA candidate. He said something to the effect of the DSA, Democratic Socialists, they're anti-American at their core. What do you make of that? Because I know you're saying I don't like the direction the country's headed. I'm assuming you're also talking about Democratic Socialism. But he's saying, whoa, I'm not like that at all. So how do you what do you make of that? It's typical for Jared Moskowitz to say something to a TV camera and then not vote that way. He had a chance twice to step up when other Democrats this year condemned socialism.

3:55There was a working group started by Democratic Congressman Swazi to stand up to socialism. He was absent, silent, as he is on so many issues. When there was a vote recently to condemn socialism, a number of Democrats crossed party lines and said, yes, this is bigger than a party. We're going to condemn socialism. Moskowitz skipped the vote. He talks a big game on Israel. He condemned Ilhan Omar and said she said horrible anti-Semitic things and still voted to keep her on the Foreign Affairs Committee. He put Ilhan Omar in charge of foreign affairs for this country. It's par for the course with Moskowitz.

4:28He'll say something to a friendly TV interviewer, but he votes the opposite way. He votes with the squad nearly 90 % of the time, and he knows what he's going to do. His socialist opponent already endorsed him proudly right after the primary, and there's very little difference with how he votes and how the socialist squad votes. So he can say what he wants, but he doesn't want to say it directly when there's a vote. He's refused to say it in a TV debate because local TV stations have offered debates. He's refused. We accept it on all the terms they offered. It's just talking out of both sides of his mouth and voting the wrong way.

4:58People are sick of it. I know that his voting record, like you said, he's voted the majority of time with certain members of the squad, but that is a lot of Democrats have voted that way. that's voting along party lines. Are you against voting along party lines? Would you vote with Republicans the majority of the time? Dive a little deeper there. What does that look like to you? Well, there's a huge difference. It's not the majority of time with Jared Moskowitz. It's 88 % of the time with the squad. People have antithetical views to him, apparently, and the district. He has not had the courage to stand up to them.

5:32I will probably vote with the Republican Party the majority of the time, but I'm proud to be an independent voter. As mayor, I was nonpartisan and reached across the aisle. I've earned support from both sides of the aisle in this race, from Governor Ron DeSantis to Democrat former Congressman Deutsch, who represented a part of this district for 12 years. They understand that my independence, especially at a time where the Democratic Party is beholden to the squad, is exactly what we need. So there's not a problem with that. The real problem is saying one thing and voting a different way. What I say is consistent with my voting record.

6:02I don't have to talk out of both sides of my mouth like some people do, and like Jared, unfortunately, has on key issues.

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7:16And we get to dive into the topics that, you know, aren't as sexy for headlines. And that is bipartisanship. Like you touched on, you're an independent voice. I've heard you say in past interviews you are a common sense politician. What are some of those issues you could see yourself working across the aisle on? Well, absolutely. I mean, I ask voters to look at what's common sense. There are a few 80%, 20 % issues in America. And unfortunately or fortunately, the Republican Party seems to be on the side of most of them. 80 % of Americans, including 71 % of Americans who are Democrats, according to a CNN poll, support photo ID to vote.

7:55It's common sense. You have to show photo ID to get into a building, to get into a complex, to do all sorts of things. But not to vote. In Florida, we have it. other states you don't. Jared Moskowitz, like so many Democrats, opposed it. And there's no real reason for that other than allowing fraud. We can't allow fraud to happen. We've seen the waste of fraud that's happened so many ways in government. Billions and hundreds of billions, if not more than a trillion dollars that's gone unchecked. We need to fix that. That's raising costs too. Another issue, you know, men and women's sports. It's common sense.

8:26I'm a father of a daughter. She's played sports. I wouldn't feel appropriate if a man was playing in sports against her. I think a lot of people feel that way. Democrats stand up to that. Finally, it's how we spend. Are we going to continue to have Medicare for all, including people who are not this country legally? The billions and billions of dollars of costs. Jared Moskowitz stands for that. He said yes. He said he voted against tax cuts. He wanted to protect health care for people who don't belong in this country. We need to make sure that we're focusing on the citizens who are here, the legal residents, not people who came here illegally.

8:59And these are just common sense proposals. I'll vote for all of these things. My opponent has voted against them. I know that one big, beautiful bill act that was signed into law last year. I know that Republicans tout the tax cuts in there, but according to the Congressional Budget Office, that in the next decade is going to tick up the deficit by around and over$3 trillion. So how do you square that number with, hey, I support this or I would have supported this, but I mean that number is just astronomical I mean I don't even know how many zeros that would have fool you once shame on you fool me twice shame on me the congressional budget office is historically uh negative they said the same thing in 2017.

9:44I do have to say they are they are non-partisan but continue continue right they are non-partisan I'm not saying it's a partisan office but they're they tend to they they have a very uh fine point on their pencil in 2017 they projected uh I think a multi-trillion dollar deficit increase. And actually at the end of that 10-year period, which we're just getting to in 2026, the tax cuts were estimated to generate a positive surplus in the economy of more than a trillion dollars. So they've been off by trillions before. But I think ultimately you have to look at, and they should really look at that again, they aired widely in 2017.

10:19There's every reason to think that they're going to air again, and that's their own record. Let's talk about the economy more in general and affordability, because pretty much like any election cycle, that is the top issue facing voters. And in Florida today, the average price for a gallon of gas is four dollars and 17 cents. And that is a dollar and 20 cents more than it was a year ago. Since the spring, inflation has outpaced wage growth and Americans across the country, and I'm sure in Florida, are really feeling that squeeze. So how are you going to make life more affordable? Well, sure. Let's just level set a couple of things, because I think there was one inaccurate statement there.

10:58Actually, in the second quarter, and I believe the first quarter to wages outpaced inflation for the first time in multiple years under President Biden. I actually I do have I do have the before we dive a little deeper there, I do have the data from the jobs report from 2026. And starting in April, wage growth was lower than the inflation rate. negative. What about in January? No, I said starting. No, I said in the second half, starting from January, January, February, March, wages outpaced inflation. Then from April to the last jobs report, which was released last week, prices outpaced wages.

11:39So well, but either way, either way, I mean, we can get into the semantics, which I'm fine with because I do have the notes. But But that's not what people want to hear. People, have you talked to anyone that says, hey, the economy is really working for me right now. I don't feel the squeeze because I haven't. Have you? Well, yes, but let's I think the facts matter. So that's why I'm glad we. Oh, of course. I do. I do as well. That's why I have them. Great. Wages have outpaced inflation. That did not happen under Biden. We were at nine percent inflation. The economy's gotten better in that sense.

12:10You're talking about gas prices. They're up from a year ago, but they're down from the president Biden regime. in both in terms of actual dollars and then in real inflation adjusted dollars. So those are components. Stock market is up. Unemployment is down. GDP is up. Wages are up. Those are good things. I do feel the pain like everyone does about the economy. We know prices have risen. A lot of that's holdover of the runaway inflation under Biden. That's a hangover effect. You know, it doesn't, prices don't reset on a day. We do have 9 % inflation under Biden. We're down to lower inflation than that.

12:42that 9 % creeps in and it builds and accrues. We had four years of higher inflation than we have had on average now. But getting back to like what matters for residents, gas is one component. One thing is healthcare costs. Those have increased dramatically. One thing I would push for, and Republicans tend to be doing more of this, is better transparency with health insurers. This is the only place, this is the only industry I know of where you can't get a clear answer, even if you have insurance, on what things will cost. You go to the grocery store, you know what a gallon of milk costs. You go in for a routine medical visit, a procedure, you have no idea, and you don't have time to comparison shop.

13:16The federal government is the biggest purchaser of health care expenses in America. They should be having greater transparency and requiring the insurers to have greater transparency. There are bills in Congress that haven't moved. I would push those further. Second cost that affects Floridians more is insurance, and there are things we can be doing better. Congress for the last 80 years has allowed states to have pretty much free reign in insurance, even though there's an interstate market. I think Congress should take back more of that control on interstate commerce to allow more insurers to cross into borders.

13:45It would create more competition. It would lower prices and it would help better allocate risk. That's something that Congress has just had hands off since the 1945 Act. I would look to revisit that. I do now want to switch gears just a little bit to immigration because we are running a little bit out of time. I want to talk about something that a member of Congress in Florida, she released this ad. she looked directly at the camera and she said this, Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far. And she warned him to be careful what his advisors are telling him about immigration policy.

14:17She also implored him not to give immigrants who entered the country illegally amnesty, but a dignified life in this promised land. And I know President Trump, he has disagreed with her. He said Salazar is getting soft on immigration and the border. What do you make of that? What do you make of her approach to immigration there? Sure. I forgot to mention something key on inflation, too. The biggest way government can lower costs for residents is lowering taxes. As Mayor Boca Raton, I cut the tax rate seven straight times. My opponent voted against tax cuts on seniors, small businesses, tip workers, overtime workers, and voted for the biggest tax hike in American history.

14:56We want to cut the cost of government. You spend less, which is something I'll do by streamlining as Boca Raton's mayor and cut taxes. My opponent didn't. He voted for tax increases. Now getting to immigration. No, no, just to follow up on that really quickly, and then I can re-ask the immigration question, of course. But prices are ticking up in large part due to energy prices because of the war against Iran, which was promised to last four to six weeks. That still hasn't wrapped up yet. Also, food prices as well. I mean, how do you tell people, will tax cuts fix that? What does that relief look like?

15:32And how immediate would people feel that? Sure. Again, I feel the pain at the pump like other people, but it's a small price to pay compared to the threat of nuclear Iran. We've seen even today, Iran raining down terror and fighting with nations that were not combatants in this war. Iran has had a campaign of terror and death to America for 47 years, killing hundreds of Americans funding terrorist activities throughout the world that have affected America, Israel, and other allies. And that is an existential threat. The nuclear threat last year that was negated a little bit, you know, was coming back.

16:09And I'm glad that we're taking action to prevent that, because think of how Iran would be if they had a nuclear weapon. So that is what we have to weigh on the one side compared to temporary pain at the pump. I would love to see a swift resolution to this conflict. I'm grateful for our military, and I know that they're working hard to do it. And if we're still fighting in January, then we can reevaluate that. But I'm optimistic. Iran is on the brink of economic collapse. I even got a report today from people on the ground that there are being the chance for a citizen uprising with more arms seems greater than it was.

16:40And we have to remember that Iran, at the time of this conflict, had been killing tens of thousands of its own people in the street. There was a humanitarian crisis beyond the threat to America. So that you have to weigh against gas prices which are temporarily higher. You have to weigh that against everything. Inflation is lower. Stock market is up. GDP is up. Gas is higher. It's temporary. But we paid more for gas even than the last few years under Biden when you adjust for inflation and in real terms, too. Now, do you want to turn to immigration? I would love to. Yeah, because I do want to be courteous of your time here.

17:13I mean, I could go all day about the economy if you would like. And I would like. So you're welcome back anytime. But we will turn to immigration because I do want to get your take on that. Like I said, I will say the question one more time. A member of Congress in Florida, Congresswoman Maria Salazar, she released this campaign ad. She was talking about immigration, and she looked directly at the camera, and she said this, Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far. She also warned him to be careful what his advisors were telling him about immigration policy, and she also implored him to not give immigrants who entered the country illegal amnesty, but a, quote, dignified life in this promised land.

17:50What do you make of her approach to immigration, especially knowing that President Trump disagreed with her? Well, she has to speak for her own district. I can tell you what we're hearing in our district. We have so many immigrants who come legally through this country who fled communism from the Soviet Union, from Cuba. And they understand the difference between the process and going in order and the proper ways and what happened under President Biden and Congress. who stood back and allowed it to happen. Tens of more, excuse me, more than 10 million people coming across our border. Thousands of crossings every day.

18:24When you look two years ago, even Republicans in Congress were saying, well, we'll limit it to 5 ,000 people a day or 2 ,500. Ludicrous numbers that harm our public safety. The border has been secured for 16, 17 months now with no illegal entries. And that's what we need. We don't have safety in a community or in a country if the border is porous. It allowed criminals to come in and we don't know the full impact of that yet. So there's a huge difference there. It was messy. When you have a situation like President Biden and Congress allowed to happen, it's going to be messy getting people out.

18:51I think there have been positive steps in terms of voluntary deportation. But yes, no one wants to see the challenge there. I think, you know, it's up to the executive to enforce this. I think Congress needs to reform our immigration policy with more sensible immigration that allows people who are consistent, you know, share our values, want to be part of society and integrated, can produce, can work, can be integrated, coming on in. It's not just anyone who wants to come in because life might be better here. That can't be the standard for immigration. Life is great in America and many people want to be here.

19:24We just can't have millions of people coming across illegally. That's what we had. So we have to get through some of the mess caused by President Biden. And I do want to ask you just generally, because we are less than a month out from Election Day, if you can believe it. But according to a recent poll in Broward County, the Democrat running for Florida's governor in that race there, he's winning against Byron Donald two to one. Independence, they also are breaking more towards David Jolly than they are for Republican Byron Donald. Does that concern you, especially thinking about the implications that could potentially have on your race?

20:02Well, no, and here's why. You have to look at the historical data. Actually, Byron Donald's is doing better in Broward County, which is a deeply Democratic county, better than Governor DeSantis was in 2018. Second, we are seeing great enthusiasm, and I can only talk about my congressional district. It runs from Miami Beach, where I was born, Fort Lauderdale, where I grew up, Boca Raton, where I'm raising my family and served as mayor. There's a five-point Republican advantage. So if we get the turnout and we're seeing a lot of enthusiasm, we're getting it there. In my district, which has a lot of Jewish population, either the first or second most Jewish district in America, they understand that support for Israel is non-negotiable and that they understand the context of the Iran war.

20:43Voters like me, Jewish voters like me, my opponent, they don't like that my opponent voted to empower Ilhan Omar, despite her hateful rhetoric on foreign affairs. They don't like that he voted against U.S.-Israel cooperation. They don't like that he's voted against other things that affect our community, particularly more, like school choice, aside from all the tax credits and the poorest borders he's voted for. They don't like that he's beholden to a socialist party and has admitted that he's been ostracized by that party because of his views on Israel. They know he won't have a voice. And so I think we're going to see a lot of Jewish voters flocking as they've seen where the Democratic Party has gone over to the Republican side and to me.

21:20The same goes for independent voters. We also have a lot of voters who grew up under communism, who fled communism. They don't like the socialist wing of the Democratic Party. And my opponent's failure repeatedly to call it out. He can say what he will, but we need a chance to vote on it or work with other Democrats. He didn't. I will stand up to communism. I will stand up to squat. I will stand with our ally, Israel, and I will stand for a safe and strong America. And those are reasons why, coupled with our grassroots and the fact that I'm actually from the district, I was born here, raised here, and lived here in all three parts of this district.

21:48My opponent never lived in the district, not from the district. He's flying in from another district. That's his choice. But people understand someone who knows our community and someone who just wants to run to Congress. Mayor Scott Singer, I appreciate you coming on here, having this wide-ranging conversation with me. Best of luck in the next couple of weeks as you finish out your campaign and sprint to Election Day. You're welcome back anytime. Well, thank you. And people are welcome to stay in touch with me at scottsingerusa.com. Hope to see them on the trail. Thanks.

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