Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and California Governor Gavin Newsom are set to engage in a debate known as “The Red State versus Blue State Debate” on November 30th in Georgia. This 90-minute event, moderated by Fox News’s Sean Hannity, will air live during Hannity’s nightly news program at 9 p.m. EST, with the exact location in Georgia yet to be determined.
The debate was first proposed by Hannity in June, and both DeSantis and Newsom agreed to participate, even though Newsom is not officially running for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
The political division between the governorships of Florida and California has been widely discussed in the media, highlighting their contrasting visions for the nation’s future.
DeSantis has frequently referred to this contrast during his campaign, emphasizing Florida’s approach to governance and its success in managing various issues.
The spokesperson for Newsom’s team stated their desire for a substantive debate without theatrics, saying, “We want a real debate—not a circus.”
DeSantis and Newsom have made differing decisions on several significant issues during their tenures. Notably, Florida took a different approach during the COVID-19 pandemic by reopening earlier than California. California also considered a bill that would allow the removal of children from parents who didn’t support gender transitions, which Newsom later vetoed.
Furthermore, Florida has reinforced parents’ rights, banned gender ideology in schools, and prohibited gender reassignment surgery for minors. California implemented a travel ban that prevented its state agency employees from going on government-funded trips to states deemed to have “anti-LGBT laws.”
The two states also have divergent energy commitments, with Newsom aiming for zero emissions by 2045 and DeSantis focusing on revitalizing U.S. oil and natural gas production.
California’s increasingly leftist policies and rising cost of living have led to a population decline, with many residents leaving the state. DeSantis highlighted this trend, contrasting it with the success of states like Florida, which he said follow tried-and-true principles.
