The political rivalry between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken a decidedly interstate turn as the two political titans prepare to butt heads in a high-stakes showdown with talk-show host Sean Hannity.
The tension between the two governors began last May, when DeSantis publicly criticized Newsom for his handling of California’s disastrous Covid-19 response. DeSantis was particularly critical of Newsom’s failed strategy of strict lockdowns while noting that Florida had managed to weather the pandemic, largely thanks to the state’s proactive approach.
This tension has recently grown heated as the two governors sparred over public dollars going to bail out other states. DeSantis lambasted Newsom for advocating the use of taxpayer money to fund bailouts while Florida was still facing an uncertain economic future. Newsom fired back, accusing DeSantis of not doing enough to address the needs of his own citizens.
The animosity reached a fever pitch after Hannity opened the door to a televised showdown between the two governors on his show. DeSantis and Newsom accepted the offer almost immediately, and the debate is now set to take place in the coming weeks.
The upcoming bout between DeSantis and Newsom promises to be a battle of wits and hard-nosed politicking as the two governors battle it out over the bailout issue and Covid-related policies. But more important than the outcomes, the debate has the potential to provide viewers with an unprecedented look at what two of America’s most powerful leaders think—all while giving millions of people an outlet for expressing their opinions in an increasingly polarized country.