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Gavin Newsom counters Ron DeSantis over rising crime in California, reminds him of Jacksonville and Miami

After the second GOP primary debate concluded, Newsom delivered a masterful retort to DeSantis's criticisms of California's policies and crime rates

SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA: The second GOP presidential primary debate held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley turned into a heated exchange of words on Wednesday night, September 27, with California Governor Gavin Newsom seizing the moment to fire back at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

After the debate concluded, Newsom delivered a masterful retort to DeSantis's criticisms of California's policies and crime rates. The stage was set for the showdown as California, a frequent target of Republican rhetoric, became the backdrop for the debate.

The second GOP primary debate

The candidates wasted no time in addressing various issues, from clean energy to sanctuary cities and crime rates, all while former President Donald Trump polled above 50% among California Republicans, as reported by Politico.

Although Trump was absent from the event, his dominance in the polls loomed large, leaving seven other candidates to battle it out in front of the symbolic Reagan's Air Force One backdrop.

The lineup included Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.

Adding to the intrigue of the evening, California Governor Gavin Newsom was present to lead the Democrats' response on behalf of President Joe Biden's campaign.

Newsom's own presidential ambitions have been a subject of speculation, although he has previously stated that he won't challenge Biden for the 2024 nomination.

Nevertheless, Fox News announced a debate between Newsom and DeSantis scheduled for November 30, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown between the two governors known for their policy clashes.

Ron DeSantis vs Gavin Newsom

Governor DeSantis seemed to have been preparing for this impending battle, as he wasted no time in criticizing California's crime rates.

"We can't be successful as a country if people aren't even safe to live in places like Los Angeles and San Francisco," DeSantis said.

"Just being in Southern California over the last couple of days, my wife and I have met three people who have been mugged on the street, and that would have never happened 10 or 20 years ago."

In a CNN interview with Dana Bash following the debate, Newsom countered DeSantis's claims by highlighting the crime rates in Florida's Jacksonville and Miami, which he argued exceeded those of San Francisco in California.

Newsom asserted that DeSantis should "familiarize" himself with crime statistics "in his own backyard," emphasizing that they were "16 percent" higher than California cities overall.

When Bash challenged Newsom's argument by pointing out that San Francisco was also grappling with crime issues, the California governor did not mince words.

"Crime is a real issue, but I find the hypocrisy and unwillingness to be honest with the American people, and the unwillingness of Ron DeSantis to take responsibility for his own crime rates in his own major cities. I find that to be curious but not surprising," Newsom responded.

'Gavin Newsom has a Presidential future'

Newsom's pointed retort garnered applause from Democrats on social media, who commended his handling of the situation while criticizing DeSantis's assertions.

"Gavin Newsom is really really good," one posted on X.

"Handled masterfully, but I suspect his whole story is made up in the first place," another wrote.

"The debate for these two is purely a publicity stunt, but Newsom is going to wipe the floor with him. They should offer it for pay-per-view because Ron is willingly running into a fire," someone else added.

"Surely Gavin Newsom has a Presidential run in his future. Loaded with facts & charisma!" another chimed in.

While the veracity of Newsom's claims remains a subject of debate, it is essential to note that violent and property crime rates in San Francisco are indeed higher than in Jacksonville. On the other hand, Miami does have higher violent crime rates compared to the Californian city, as indicated by data from Best Places.