'Blizzard of lies': 5 highlights from DeSantis vs. Newsom 'Great State Debate'
Abortion
Debating abortion, Newsom claimed DeSantis would sign a national six-week abortion ban if it landed on his desk.pic.twitter.com/UCtctQeqUd
— Ground News (@Ground_app) December 1, 2023
The governors also clashed on abortion, with Newsom claiming DeSantis "signed the most extreme, anti-abortion bills in America."
"[DeSantis] signed a bill banning any exceptions for rape and incest, and then he said it didn’t go far enough and decided to sign a six-week ban before women even know they’re pregnant, Ron," Newsom said. "Before women can even access a doctor’s appointment."
Florida's law would ban abortion once a heartbeat can be detected, which is usually around six weeks of gestation.
Newsom claimed DeSantis' abortion ban, which is slated to be heard before the Florida Supreme Court, is so extreme that it "criminalizes women and criminalizes doctor that even Donald Trump said it was too extreme." Former President Donald Trump criticized Florida's ban as a "terrible thing" during a recent interview.
DeSantis said he supported the law because he supports a "culture of life."
“I think we're better off when everybody counts, when everybody has an opportunity to do well,” he said, but did not say whether he would support a national abortion ban.