Governors Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Gavin Newsom (D-CA) have each expressed a willingness to engage in a public debate, spotlighting their contrasting leadership styles and policies.
DeSantis confirmed on Fox News, “Absolutely, I’m game. Let’s get it done.” Their rivalry, featuring sharp criticisms of each other’s policies, has been ongoing, with DeSantis notably criticizing Newsom’s approach to immigration and Newsom opposing DeSantis’s family-first, anti-LGBTQ+ stance.
DeSantis further articulated his readiness to debate in a tweet: “The debate between California and Florida is already over. People have been voting with their feet for years. But the debate about the future of our country is one we need to have.”
Newsom’s office affirmed the governor’s eagerness to spar and sent a formal request to Fox News, suggesting debate dates and inviting Sean Hannity as the moderator.
This debate could boost DeSantis’s national visibility amidst lagging polls against former President Trump. Similarly, Newsom, rumored to be planning a 2024 White House bid, could utilize this opportunity to justify his leadership decisions, which critics argue led to increased crime, homelessness, and resident exodus in California.
