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An official debate between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been scheduled and will be moderated by Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Nov. 30, the network confirmed.
Per Fox News, the 90-minute debate will air during Sean Hannity’s 9:00 p.m. ET program. The forum is set to take place in Georgia, although its location in the state has yet to be determined.
In a statement posted on his website, Hannity said, “I am looking forward to providing viewers with an informative debate about everyday issues and governing philosophies that impact the lives of every American.”
While the Florida Republican and California Democrat have talked of holding a debate in person for more than a year, per RSBN, it now appears that those talks have come to fruition.
This debate could bring a national profile to the two governors amid next year’s presidential race. DeSantis is currently a 2024 contender, while Newsom has publicly declined to run against incumbent Joe Biden.
The California governor will instead spearhead the Democrats’ response to the upcoming Republican debate on behalf of the Biden-Harris campaign, RSBN previously reported.
Nonetheless, Newsom is still rumored to be waiting on a presidential bid of his own, particularly if Biden is unable to run.
The left-wing governor has lately moderated a few of his stances, such as his veto of AB 957, which would have allowed judges to remove children from the custody of parents who failed to “affirm” their chosen gender identity.
The move surprised many California Democrats, signaling that the governor could be moderating his stances in preparation for a presidential run.
Even so, the Golden State has been plagued by a slew of problems during the rule of Gavin Newsom. A February 2023 Pubic Policy Institute of California poll of the state’s residents found that the economy and homelessness were among the top issues facing Californians.
Another September 2022 survey from the institute found that two-thirds of state residents believed crime was a “big problem” for them. Prop 47, passed in 2014, reclassified “nonviolent” crimes like commercial burglary, possession of stolen property, and drug possession from felonies to misdemeanors.
Shoplifters will not be charged with a felony for stealing property valued under $950, according to the state’s proposal.
The upcoming debate could allow the Florida governor to highlight the many issues Californians experience under Newsom.
Gov. DeSantis will also participate in the second 2024 GOP primary debate in California on Wednesday. President Trump, however, is already polling much higher than the governor in the state.
According to the most recent primary polling in California, Trump holds a 39-point lead over DeSantis, a survey from the University of Berkeley/Los Angeles Times found.
Nationally, Trump is performing even better against his GOP counterparts. The Real Clear Politics average showed Trump leading eight other candidates by nearly 43 points as of Tuesday.
Trump also declined to attend the second primary debate and will instead head to Detroit, where he will reportedly meet with striking union autoworkers, multiple outlets have reported.