Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and California Governor Gavin Newsom are scheduled to participate in a televised 90-minute debate moderated by Fox News’ Sean Hannity on November 30, as announced in a press release from the network. The debate will be broadcast on Hannity’s show, and while it will take place in Georgia, the specific location within the key battleground state is yet to be determined.
In response to the announcement, Governor DeSantis expressed his anticipation for the debate, stating on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter), “I look forward to the opportunity to debate Gavin Newsom over our very different visions for the future of our country.”
Governor Newsom’s spokesperson, Nathan Click, emphasized that they are committed to having a substantive debate and not a spectacle. Click stated, “We’ve agreed to the debate — provided there is no cheering section, no hype videos, or any of the other crutches DeSantis requested. We want a real debate — not a circus.”
These two governors, who hold opposing political ideologies, initially agreed to debate each other in early August, but negotiations stalled for several weeks due to disagreements over the proposed rules.
Governor DeSantis, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president, frequently criticizes Governor Newsom on the campaign trail, portraying California as a failed liberal counterpart to his own state of Florida.
During a campaign event in Grinnell, Iowa, DeSantis explained his motivation for accepting the debate invitation, citing his belief that President Biden’s agenda aligns with California’s policies. He stated, “One, Biden’s agenda is ultimately just trying to take the California agenda nationally anyways. … California leftism is kind of how the Democratic Party operates.” DeSantis also speculated about the possibility of Newsom becoming the Democratic nominee for president.
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While Newsom is often mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, he has downplayed rumors of a primary challenge against President Biden. He has expressed support for Biden’s re-election and emphasized that Vice President Kamala Harris is the natural successor to Biden.
In addition to the upcoming debate with DeSantis, Governor DeSantis is also in California for another campaign event: the second GOP primary debate, which will take place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.
