DeSantis vs Newsom debate: how to watch, when
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to clash with California Gov. Gavin Newsom in FOX News Channel’s “Great Red vs. Blue State Debate” on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET in Alpharetta, Georgia.
It will be available on Fox News Channel via any valid cable subscription.
Fox News host Sean Hannity will moderate the 90 minute discussion, covering issues like the economy, the border, immigration, crime and inflation.
“Focusing on the major issues impacting the country, the debate will examine the vastly different approaches the two governors have and offer insights into their political philosophies as well as ambitions for the nation,” Fox said in a press release.
Following the debate, at around 10:30 p.m., Hannity will have a panel of guests giving their reactions to the debate.
Georgia, a swing state in presidential elections, most recently swung for President Joe Biden in the 2020 election with 49.5% of the vote to former President Donald Trump’s 49.3%.
DeSantis and Newsom began to legitimately discuss the potential of a one-on-one debate after the California governor initially challenged DeSantis to the idea in late-2022.
“Absolutely. I’m game,” DeSantis more recently said when being interviewed by Hannity. “Let’s get it done. Just tell me when and where – we’ll do it.”
Newsom said that DeSantis “took the bait” when he agreed to debate the California governor.
“You’re baiting him with the debate offer?” Fox 11 anchor Elex Michaelson asked Newsom in September.
“Of course, I mean why is he debating a guy that’s not even running for president – when he’s running for president?” Newsom said.
On top of debate talk, DeSantis has pressured Newsom about the idea of running for president in the 2024 Democratic primary against Biden.
Newsom told the Associated Press that there was no chance “on God’s green earth” that he would challenge Biden.
The governors’ rivalry originally kicked up from policies on the coronavirus pandemic. The two leaders had starkly differing views on how to address the crisis.
Florida reopened after some months of lockdowns due to the virus. California waited until around June 2021 to officially remove lockdown restrictions.
