In a recent heated debate between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and California Governor Gavin Newsom, a clash of ideologies and policy approaches emerged on a variety of contentious issues. The debate, hosted by Fox News in Georgia, covered topics ranging from crime and civil rights to mental health and governance styles.
One particularly notable moment occurred when Governor DeSantis, discussing vagrancy issues in California, held up a map of San Francisco during the debate. Pointing to an app that maps instances of human feces found on the city streets, he sought to emphasize what he viewed as a significant problem related to homelessness and public sanitation in the state.
The “Newsom San Francisco Poop Map” was #GreasyGavin’s death blow. He couldn’t smirk his way out of that one with all the Chiclet teeth in the world. pic.twitter.com/38WIrP4Fcn
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) December 1, 2023
Governor Newsom, in response, defended California’s efforts, highlighting investments made in reforming the behavioral health system while critiquing Florida’s mental health system. This exchange of accusations and contrasting perspectives drew attention and prompted diverse reactions across social media platforms.
Ron DeSantis reveals Gavin Newsom’s own father in-law fled commie California to live in Florida due to how the states are governed pic.twitter.com/sNcEEPyX4I
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 1, 2023
The viral clip of DeSantis holding the map of San Francisco and referencing the issue of human waste in the city garnered significant online engagement. Comments on social media ranged from ridicule and mockery of the situation to supportive accounts corroborating similar experiences with San Francisco’s sanitation issues.
Holy cow, that close by DeSantis showing the San Francisco poop map and then pointing out Newsom cleans up the streets for China and not his own people…that is one of the biggest throat punches I’ve ever seen a Democrat take. I laughed out loud.
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) December 1, 2023
Throughout the debate, the governors sparred over governance styles and the success of their respective approaches, with DeSantis portraying California’s challenges as a failure of leftist ideology and advocating for conservative principles. Newsom, on the other hand, accused DeSantis of wanting to undermine civil rights and democracy, presenting a contrast between their political visions.
The debate unfolded against the backdrop of speculation about potential future presidential runs for both governors. While DeSantis is actively pursuing the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, trailing behind Donald Trump in recent polls, Newsom, although widely touted as a potential Democratic candidate, has not announced a 2024 run and has endorsed Joe Biden for a second term.
Experts have offered contrasting opinions on the prospects of both governors on a national stage, with some highlighting potential challenges for Newsom due to perceptions of his California-centric image. Ray La Raja, co-director of UMass Poll, expressed concerns about Newsom’s style and its reception among voters from different regions, suggesting it might pose an obstacle if he decides to pursue national ambitions.
