Governors Ron DeSantis, Gavin Newsom to face off in unusual debate today

In what often is the most unorthodox match-up of the 2024 presidential main marketing campaign to this point, Florida governor and GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis and California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, who is just not working for president, will face one another Thursday night time in a debate moderated by Fox Information’ Sean Hannity.

At 9 p.m. ET, the 2 will likely be collaborating in what Fox Information is billing as “The Nice Purple vs. Blue State Debate.” The 2 will debate for 90 minutes in Alpharetta, Georgia, after which will every communicate to the press afterward. 

Why are DeSantis and Newsom debating?

DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, will likely be debating a governor who is just not working for president in 2024, however the rivalry between the 2 has been constructing for years, as they’d reverse responses to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their public disagreements and spats over schooling, immigration and financial coverage have additionally elevated within the final two years. 

In September 2022, Newsom first proposed a debate with DeSantis on CNN. Then, Hannity raised the thought once more in a June 2023 interview with Newsom, and he agreed to it. A few months later, in August, DeSantis informed Hannity, “Let’s get it performed. Simply inform me when and the place.” 

In line with the Every day Mail, Hannity privately negotiated with each camps to finalize preparations for the controversy. 

Background on the governors

Each governors have been first elected in 2018, and gained reelection handily in 2022. Each have been touted as the way forward for their respective events, although DeSantis’ has been testing that declare since he launched his bid in Could. Newsom is a staunch backer of and surrogate for President Biden and has repeatedly mentioned he has no plans to run for president or problem Mr. Biden in 2024. 

The 2 governors have been criticizing one another in adverts and information conferences for over a yr. In 2022, Newsom ran an advert in opposition to DeSantis’ insurance policies affecting the LGBTQ neighborhood and accused him of attacking freedom in his state. DeSantis responded by saying that California “is driving folks away with their horrible governance.” 

The 2 are more likely to face questions on their dealing with of points more likely to resonate nationally — border coverage, inflation and the economic system.

Sonoma State political science professor David McCuan says Newsom will doubtless attempt to attraction to the Fox viewers by presenting himself as a average.

“There’s lots at stake right here, and there is a lot at stake as a result of these two additionally doubtlessly match up in 2028,” McCuan informed CBS Sacramento.

In current months, DeSantis has repeatedly steered that Newsom might find yourself changing Mr. Biden on the 2024 common election poll. The DeSantis marketing campaign, in messaging steering despatched to supporters and donors by the DeSantis marketing campaign this week, made a number of references to a “Newsom presidency” seem and wrote, “This would be the first likelihood for Republicans to distinction our imaginative and prescient for the way forward for the nation with the failed agenda of somebody who very nicely might change into the Democrats’ nominee.”

The talk will air on Fox Information and on Fox Information radio.

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