Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) is having a field day with Howard Schultz.

After the Starbucks founder announced he was leaving Seattle for Miami on the same night Washington Democrats passed a sweeping income tax on high earners, Scott took to social media to mock him — and extend an invitation.

As The Jason Rantz Show previously reported, Schultz announced the move on LinkedIn while the state House finalized passage of the income tax bill, which Governor Bob Ferguson is expected to sign imminently. Schultz cited Florida’s sunshine and proximity to his children as reasons for the move, but the timing said everything Democrats refuse to say out loud.

Heard Howard Schultz is moving to Florida.

Not surprised. Just like @AOC’s mom, everyone comes to Florida to escape woke policies, high taxes and insane regulations. Leave your socialist ideas in Seattle — they aren’t welcome in the Sunshine State. pic.twitter.com/IOwf5m3kol

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) March 12, 2026

Scott welcomes Schultz with conditions

Scott’s video post on X pulled no punches.

“Now, who saw this happen?” he said. “Okay, somebody that historically has loved socialist policies is moving to the Free State of Florida.”

Scott did not exactly roll out an unconditional welcome mat.

“Howard, we love people coming to our state,” he said. “But guess what? We like conservative politics. We like low taxes, things like that. Now we do have great coffee. We have great cafecitos. I think you’re really going to love Florida, especially Cuban coffee.”

But the Florida senator closed with the broader pitch: “So come to Florida, enjoy our strong coffee, our low taxes and policies that help everyday citizens do really well.”

Schultz joins a growing line of high-net-worth Washington residents who have relocated to no-income-tax states, including Jeff Bezos, who departed after the capital gains tax passed. Democrats insist the wealthy will stay. They keep leaving anyway.

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