Alpharetta, Georgia – Florida governor and GOP presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis is set to square off in a debate against California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is not a candidate for president, in a nationally televised event. This unorthodox match-up is scheduled to take place on Thursday night and will be moderated by Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

The “The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate” will be aired at 9 p.m. ET. This debate holds significance as the rivals have had contrasting responses to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and have had public disagreements over various policy issues. The idea for the debate was first raised by Newsom on CNN in September 2022 and later by Hannity in a June 2023 interview with Newsom, to which he agreed. The event was then finalized through negotiations between both camps, organized by Hannity.

Both DeSantis and Newsom were elected as governors in 2018 and have been reelected in 2022. They have been viewed as the future of their respective parties, with DeSantis officially launching his bid for presidency in May 2024. The two governors have been involved in a war of words, with Newsom running ads against DeSantis’ policies affecting the LGBTQ community, while DeSantis criticized California’s governance. The debate is likely to address national issues such as border policy, inflation, and the economy.

The debate is expected to air on Fox News and Fox News Radio, giving viewers a chance to assess the contrasting visions for the future country. Both governors’ handling of national issues and their potential to influence the 2024 and 2028 elections are likely to be scrutinized.