Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) went head to head in a Fox News debate on Thursday as the governors — one a current presidential contender and the other seen as

The Covid pandemic offered a dramatic contrast between the two governors' philosophies, as California closed schools, shuttered businesses for an extended duration and imposed mask and vaccine mandates, while Florida reversed its earlier mitigation efforts much more quickly.

A debate between the two governors comes amid DeSantis’ presidential hopes being on life support while Newsom looks to be his party's future.