New York: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will take time out from debating fellow Republicans in two months to take on a Democrat, California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Fox News said on Monday that the two politicians will appear in a 90-minute debate on November 30 in Georgia, at an exact location to be determined.
The unusual clash - which Fox is billing as a “Red vs Blue state debate” is between two leaders who are not running for the same office.
California Governor Gavin Newsom on left and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on right.Credit: AP
Besides being closer to DeSantis’ home turf, conservative opinion host Sean Hannity will be the moderator, and it is airing on Fox News Channel in Hannity’s 9pm Eastern time slot.
The idea has been talked about since June, when Newsom appeared for an interview on Hannity’s show.
DeSantis is scheduled to appear in the second debate of Republican candidates for the 2024 presidential nomination later this week, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.
Nathan Click, a spokesman for Newsom, said the California governor agreed to the debate provided there was no cheering section of “hype videos.”
“We want a real debate,” Click said. “Not a circus.”
AP with staff reporter