(NewsNation) — GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis gave his State of the State speech kicking off Florida’s legislative session Tuesday morning.

The governor started off his speech by criticizing the Biden administration, while also taking aim at other states and cities for their crime rates.

“We are, as a country, in the midst of a great upheaval, and we see this throughout the land,” DeSantis said.

This is because, DeSantis said, elected officials are making the choice to put ideology over “sound policy.”

“In this time for choosing, Florida has chosen well. We have chosen facts over fear. We have chosen education over indoctrination. We have chosen law and order over rioting and disorder,” DeSantis said. “We have chosen fiscal responsibility over debt and profligacy. Our choices have produced results that are second to none in this country.”

This speech comes a week before a pivotal political event for the Republican presidential hopeful: The Iowa caucuses. DeSantis was scheduled to head to Iowa after his address.

While former President Donald Trump has been the Republican frontrunner for president, DeSantis, for most of the race, had been in second place — although recently, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has been competing with him for that spot.

Shortly before his speech Tuesday, DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 49 counties, including the one in which the Flordia State Capitol is located, because of severe stormy weather. NewsNation local affiliate WFLA writes that Florida Democrats slammed the governor and legislators for convening during power outages and tornado warnings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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