The gubernatorial election season is heating up in two of the US’s biggest states—Florida and California. Fox News recently reported that Republican incumbent Ron DeSantis and Democratic reinforcement Gavin Newsom will debate in the first week of November at the beginning of the election’s final stretch.
The candidates have had to navigate the ongoing public health and economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and its own unique set of problems and consequences that have kept each state on their toes.
DeSantis has touted his efforts in successfully navigating the pandemic in Florida, and his ability to both contain its spread while simultaneously keeping the economy afloat. Meanwhile, Newsom, while enjoying much higher approval ratings in recent polls, must also answer to criticism regarding his handing of the pandemic in California, in particular, its recent minimum wage increase, and the state’s high unemployment rate.
When the two meet for their eagerly anticipated debate, it will be the most likely to discuss ways to drive their state’s economies post-pandemic, which will be especially pertinent with the US presidential election coming up right after.
DeSantis and Newsom have had starkly different approaches to the pandemic, with the former opting for a gradual opening and the latter taking more of a “shut-it-all-down” approach. The two governors will have the chance to explain themselves to voters, and perhaps advocate for their opposing approaches to the long road out of the pandemic.
In addition, racial equity, healthcare, and gun safety will likely be debated as they have become hot-button issues in the last year—all topics that will especially be on the minds of millions of voters during the upcoming election cycle.
The DeSantis-Newsom debate is undoubtedly one of the most exciting for election watchers in the state this election season, and should provide some highly charged insight into the policies and ideas that the respective governors have for their respective states.
