Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom to take debate stage in shadow contest

Florida governor trails in Republican primary polling while California Democratic counterpart is not even challenging Biden

The Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, a hard-right contender for the Republican presidential nomination, will take the debate stage in Alpharetta, Georgia, on Thursday night.

But his opponent will not be Donald Trump, the former president and clear frontrunner, or Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor who has surged into second place in the polls. Nor will DeSantis face any other Republican.