DeSantis vs. Newsom: Highlights from the ‘Red State vs. Blue State’ Debate on Fox

By Leah Watson, The Kennedy Beacon

By Leah Watson, The Kennedy Beacon

On Thursday night, November 30, Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom and Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, faced off in a spicy debate billed as ‘Red State vs. Blue State.’

The debate was aired live from Alpharetta, Georgia, moderated by Fox News’s Sean Hannity, and was the first red-state blue-state debate on Fox. Hannity asked the governors about such subjects as crime, inflation, homelessness, education, abortion, and the rise of antisemitism in the United States. It seemed the only commonality between the two governors was, as Newsom said at the start of the debate, “Neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024.”

Although rare for a presidential candidate like DeSantis to debate anybody not in the running, this debate had been proposed by Newsom before DeSantis launched his campaign. We speculate that the debate was an effort by DeSantis to boost his lackluster poll numbers. Newsom’s participation might have been his and the DNC’s attempt to steer more support toward President Joe Biden, as Newsom is one of the president’s key allies. 

Hannity attempted to keep the debate focused on fundamental issues affecting Americans. But the governors sparred on topics such as Biden’s health, abortion laws, and immigration.

Aside from the president’s health, Hannity asked both debaters to grade Biden’s performance as president. Newsom praised the president multiple times, which prompted Hannity to ask the governor “Is Joe Biden paying for you tonight?” Predictably, Newsom gave Biden an A while Desantis slapped Biden with an F for failing Florida as well as the rest of the country with his ‘inflationary’ policies.

“Joe Biden is experiencing, what I believe to be, significant cognitive decline,” said Hannity, who then asked the governors if they agreed with this assessment.

“I would take Joe Biden at 100 versus DeSantis any day of the week and at any age,” said Newsom, who continued to support the incumbent and went on to state that inflation is down and the economy is booming with a 5.2% GDP in the last quarter. 

“He has no business running for president,” began DeSantis, “and Newsom agrees with that, he won’t say it but that’s why he’s running his shadow campaign.”

DeSantis and team suspect Newsom is waiting in the wings to take over if Biden is unable to continue his run for a second term. “I don’t know how many times I need to say it,” said Newsom, “Joe Biden will be our nominee in a matter of weeks.”

This echoed Newsom’s earlier statement that the reason he participated in the debate was to support the president and showcase the differences between Biden and DeSantis.

Hannity brought up abortion, suggesting that it would play a large role in future elections. Hannity also claimed that most medical professionals believe that a baby is viable, outside of a mother’s womb, between 24-26 weeks. “Do you support any restrictions at all on abortion, especially in months 7, 8, and 9?” Hannity asked Newsom and DeSantis.

“I trust the mother and her doctor to make that decision,” said Newsom, also mentioning that it’s extremely exceptional for women to seek an abortion at 7, 8, or 9 months.

Hannity then asked DeSantis his reasoning for switching from a 15-week abortion ban to a 6-week abortion ban, to which DeSantis replied, “I believe in a culture of life, I think we’re better off when everyone counts, when everybody has the opportunity to do well.”

Newsom interjected, asking DeSantis if he would sign a national abortion ban, a question which DeSantis refused to answer.

On the issue of immigration, Hannity asked the governors about their stance on U.S. border security. He presented statistics showing that the border patrol had 6.5 million encounters with illegal immigrants and asylum seekers. Does the border pose a clear and present danger to the United States? Hannity asked.

“California is a sanctuary state, they thumb their nose at federal immigration law,” said DeSantis, who went on to say that this leads to an influx of immigrants who commit violent crimes against the American people and to the spread of fentanyl —and warned that terrorism is a threat coming from the southern border.

“I support border security, I think the asylum system is broken,” said Newsom, and then directing his ire to DeSantis added, “You’re trolling folks and trying to find migrants to play political games to try and get some news and attention so you can out-Trump Trump. How’s that going for you? You’re 41 points behind in your own state.”

This exchange typified the sparring between the governors, who often talked over each other, making the debate at times nearly incomprehensible. Newsom consistently took issue with the statistics presented and sourced by Hannity. Over the course of the debate, the governors called each other liars and bullies and spat invectives at each other as viewers of Fox witnessed two clashing visions of America.