The topic of political rivalries has always fascinated the public. The ongoing feud between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken this rivalry to a whole new level. The situation has become so heated that the two governors will be facing off in a primetime debate on Fox News hosted by Sean Hannity.
The drama started when Governor DeSantis unveiled a successful approach to handling the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida. His response earned him the approval of the majority of Florida residents and even the commendation of President Trump. Governor Newsom however, was not impressed by DeSantis’s record in Communist-run Cuba. After their initial heated exchange, the feud has only become more intense.
In March, Governor DeSantis took to Twitter to criticize Governor Newsom’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. He argued that California had essentially become a “petri dish of disease.” Newsom notably responded to DeSantis by trying to discredit the success of the Florida Traveler’s Initiative and attempting to make light of his Cuba comments.
The hard feelings between the two governors have culminated in the Fox News debate. Hannity has requested that both governors stay away from personal attacks in favor of debating their respective strategies to combat the pandemic. Hannity noted that the debate will focus on their differences in management style when it comes to the skyrocketing unemployment numbers, small business closures, and the rising costs of fighting the virus.
Republicans and Democrats alike will be watching this unprecedented debate closely. It has the potential to provide insight into both Democrats and Republican strategies to tackle the virus and shape the opinions of viewers as the election nears.
The Hannity debate between Fox News Governors Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom marks a major milestone in the growing competition between Democrats and Republicans over policies to manage the pandemic. With the possibility of either party emerging with a political advantage, the stakes for the debate are high and the public interest is sure to be intense.