Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) took a swipe at Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), calling him "undisciplined" in the latest episode in the governors' long-running feud.
Newsom told the Associated Press that he believes DeSantis, who is running for the Republican nomination for president, will get "crushed" by former President Donald Trump in the GOP primary.
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“He’s taking his eye off the ball,” Newsom told the outlet. “And that’s not inconsistent with my own assessment of him, which is he is a weak candidate, and he is undisciplined and will be crushed by Donald Trump, and will soon be in third or fourth in national polls."
DeSantis trails Trump in the GOP primary, per the RealClearPolitics polling average, but the Florida governor is solidly in second, significantly ahead of the candidates behind him. Recent polls have shown Trump's lead may be slipping as DeSantis's numbers remain solid.
When reached for comment, the DeSantis campaign pointed to a video released Monday that slammed Newsom's governance as a "disaster," along with remarks he made last week addressing the California governor.
While speaking at a press conference, DeSantis discussed California's declining population compared with Florida's growing population and put the blame on Newsom's governing style. He also challenged Newsom to enter the 2024 presidential race.
"Yet, with all those problems he has a real, serious fixation on the state of Florida. I mean, I think it is just bizarre that he does that. But what I would tell him is: stop pussyfooting around. Are you going to throw your hat in the ring and challenge Joe? Or are you going to sit on the sidelines and chirp? Why don't you throw your hat in the ring, and then we'll go ahead and talk about what's happening,” DeSantis said.
When asked by the Associated Press if he would challenge President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination, Newsom reaffirmed his support for the president.
“Not on God’s green earth, as the phrase goes,” Newsom told the outlet. “I have been pretty consistently — including recently on Fox News — making the case for his candidacy.”
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Newsom has long insisted that he will not challenge Biden, while also throwing jabs at DeSantis.
DeSantis was in California on Monday and Tuesday, where his campaign said he would "see first-hand the disastrous results of liberal governance."