Ron DeSantis, Gavin Newsom to debate immigration, economy, crime

Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are scheduled to meet Thursday in Georgia for an unprecedented debate between governors from opposing parties.

"The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate" begins at 9 p.m. EST. It is scheduled to run 90 minutes and will be shown on Fox News, Fox News Radio and FoxNews.com. Fox News host Sean Hannity will moderate.

The impetus for the debate was a tweet by Dan Rather proposing the idea to CNN. Newsom, a Democrat, responded, tweeting at Florida's Republican governor challenging him to a debate last year.

"Hey @GovRonDeSantis, clearly you're struggling, distracted and busy playing politics with people's lives. Since you have only one overriding need -- attention --let's take this up & debate," Newsom tweeted. "I'll bring my hair gel. You bring your hairspray. Name the time before Election Day. @CNN."

After more than a year of back-and-forth chiding, Newsom and DeSantis will share the debate stage in Alpharetta, Ga. There will be no audience in attendance as they present what is expected to be starkly different perspectives on key issues like immigration, the economy and crime, according to a press release from Fox.

Thursday's debate will be the fourth for DeSantis in as many months. On Wednesday, he will be on the debate stage in Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the fourth Republican presidential primary debate.

Newsom is not running for office, though he is often mentioned as an eventual Democratic candidate for president.