Newsom attacks DeSantis in Fourth of July ad

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is running an ad in Florida on July 4 attacking the Sunshine State's Republican leaders, saying that this Independence Day, "Freedom is under attack."
Republican lawmakers in Florida are "banning books, making it harder to vote, restricting speech in classrooms, even criminalizing women and doctors," Newsom, who is up for reelection, said. "I urge all of you living in Florida to join the fight or join us in California where we still believe in freedom — freedom of speech, freedom to choose, freedom from hate, and the freedom to love. Don't let them take your freedom."
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) declined to comment, but his campaign spokesperson, Dave Abrams, said Newsom is wasting his money on a gimmick, calling the ad a "desperate attempt to win back the California refugees who fled the hellhole he created in his state to come to Florida." It's been speculated that both Newsom and DeSantis plan on running for president, possibly as early as 2024.
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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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