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Newsom Now Wants to Debate DeSantis. Here's How the Florida Governor Responded.

Leah Barkoukis
Leah Barkoukis  |  June 15, 2023 3:30 PM

Gov. Gavin Newsom has had a political obsession with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for over a year now. He's made commercials in Florida claiming California is freer than The Sunshine State, sparred on most hot-button issues, including abortion, guns, illegal immigration, Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act, which the left dubs the "Don't Say Gay" bill, among a host of other issues. And most recently, Newsom suggested DeSantis could face state criminal charges after California officials said migrants were sent to Sacramento by the state of Florida. 

"@RonDeSantis you small, pathetic man," Newsom tweeted. "This isn't Martha's Vineyard. Kidnapping charges?" 

That same day, the progressive Democrat even told Fox News' Sean Hannity that he'd debate DeSantis for three hours, without notes, and with just one day's notice. 

Keep in mind that while Newsom may be positioning himself to be president one day, he hasn't actually announced he's running this time around. 

Asked about the debate, DeSantis started by noting how Newsom wants to do this despite dealing with numerous issues at home.

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"He's got huge problems in his state," DeSantis said. "You see it in San Francisco, you see it in LA, you see it in the people fleeing." 

DeSantis went on to recall that while California was once seen as the land of opportunity, Newsom is now "the first governor that's overseeing a massive exodus out of California." 

The Republican continued, "He has a real, serious fixation on the state of Florida, I mean, I think it's just bizarre that he does that. But what I would tell him is, you know what, stop pussyfooting around. Are you going to throw your hat in the ring and challenge Joe? ... Or are you going to sit on the sidelines and chirp? So why don't you throw your hat in the ring, and then we'll go ahead and talk about what's happening."