California and Florida are not just known for their sun, sand, and surf, but also for the fierce competition between their governors on the national political stage.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been vocal about Californians fleeing their liberal governor’s policies and choosing Jacksonville over Southern California as a means to escape what he refers to as a “dumpster fire.”
Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, has responded by calling DeSantis a “small, pathetic man,” proudly highlighting California’s status as an economic powerhouse that Florida simply cannot match.
The rivalry between the two governors is intensifying, with Newsom challenging DeSantis to a debate. In response, DeSantis has urged Newsom to stop “pussyfooting around” and join him in running for president. However, Newsom has made it clear that he supports the incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden.
Newsom calls DeSantis ‘small, pathetic man’ over new migrant flights
DeSantis and Florida Republicans have been critical of California, depicting it as a liberal hellscape plagued by crime, homelessness, and burdensome government regulations.
DeSantis stated, “He’s got huge problems in his state… We all know that. You see it in San Francisco. You see it in LA. You see it in the people fleeing.”
In an effort to raise his profile, Newsom visited New College of Florida, which DeSantis had transformed to reflect his conservative views. The California governor even ran an advertisement in Florida, proclaiming that “freedom is under attack” in the state and taking aim at abortion bans and LGBTQ+ bills proposed by the Legislature.
Newsom encouraged Floridians to “join us in California, where we still believe in freedom. Freedom of speech. Freedom to choose. Freedom from hate. And the freedom to love.”
Recently, Newsom revealed that California is considering pursuing criminal charges against Florida for the migrant flights it sent to Sacramento.
So, how do these two states compare on key metrics? California, known for its tech and entertainment centers, boasts a higher economic output than Florida. California’s per-person gross domestic product is approximately $92,200, while Florida’s is around $62,400.
If California were an independent country, it would have the fifth-largest economy in the world based on nominal GDP.
Newsom defended California’s economic record, citing its leadership in Nobel laureates, research and development, venture capital, and patent applications during an interview with Fox News personality Sean Hannity.
He told Hannity, “With all due respect, Florida doesn’t even come close… California continues to be the dominant economic engine for the American people.”
It’s worth noting that Californians pay higher taxes than Floridians. California ranks 12th in tax burden among U.S. states, while Florida ranks fifth lowest, according to a study by personal finance website Wallethub.
Florida is the fastest-growing state in the nation, Census estimates show
While Californians are leaving the state, Florida’s population continues to grow. Census data shows that California’s population declined by about 500,000 from April 2020 to July 2022, while Florida’s population grew by approximately 700,000 during the same period.
Newsom expressed his willingness to debate DeSantis, proposing a debate with only one day’s notice and no notes, moderated by Hannity.
DeSantis, however, has not committed to the idea. When asked about Newsom, he responded, “Stop pussyfooting around. Are you going to throw your hat in the ring and challenge Joe? Or are you just going to sit on the sidelines and chirp?”
Shortly after, DeSantis’ campaign began selling t-shirts with the slogan “stop pussyfooting around” for $34.47.
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