A year after California Governor Gavin Newsom abandoned the challenge, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis picked it up. The Newsom vs. DeSantis debate has begun.
DeSantis appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show Wednesday night and accepted Newsom’s request for a discussion. It is scheduled to air on TV this fall.
“Well, I’m the game. Let’s do it,” said Mr. DeSantis. “Tell me when and where. I’ll do it.”
Under Newsome’s proposed terms, the debate would take place on November 8 or 10 in one of three battleground states: Nevada, Georgia and North Carolina. It won’t take place in front of an audience, but will be broadcast live during a 90-minute segment on Fox News.
The debate will be moderated by Hannity and will alternate questions that each governor will have 90 seconds to answer. Also, each participant is allowed a maximum of 4 minutes of opening remarks and his 2 minutes of closing remarks.
Newsom has been eyeing a debate with DeSantis since last fall, and the two have had several public altercations. DeSantis, the 2024 Republican presidential primary candidate, has recently seen sluggish poll numbers and declining donations for his fundraiser.
“November 8 or 10 — DeSantis should be patient or shut up. Anything else is just a game,” Newsom said through a spokesperson.
Newsom has previously criticized DeSantis for mass transit of immigrants and appears to have threatened Florida’s governor with kidnapping charges for his actions. Mr. Newsom also traveled to Sunshine State to meet with students at New College of Florida, where several conservative trustees were recently appointed to the board.
While the debate will be finalized, the Republican National Committee’s first preliminary debate is scheduled for Aug. 23 in Milwaukee.
DeSantis is eligible to participate in the debate, but has not yet confirmed his attendance at the committee. Others include former President Trump, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgham. candidates are also eligible.
