California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) dismissed the idea that California has a crime problem despite data showing otherwise.
During a debate on Thursday night between Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Fox News host Sean Hannity questioned Newsom regarding data from the Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) which showed California’s crime rates being higher than the national average.
The data showed the combined crime rates of homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault during 2022. While Florida had 258.9 offenses per 100,000 people, California had 499.5 offenses per 100,000 people. The national average was 380.7 per 100,000 people.
“Governor Newsom, let me start with you,” Hannity began. “Your numbers are way higher than the national average. How do you explain that when safety and security, I would argue, is a prerequisite for the pursuit of happiness?”
“Well, I couldn’t agree with you more,” Newsom said in response to Hannity’s question. “We’re near 50-year lows, down 55% violent crimes in the state of California from the 1990s. I want to compare and contrast that with the issue in Florida that you didn’t mention, and that’s the murder rate. Let’s broaden it more broadly.”
As Newsom continued to speak, Hannity interjected to point out that “those numbers” had been “part of the murder rate.”
Newsom argued that cities in Florida like Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa had murder rates that were “off the charts” compared to California cities like, San Francisco.
To date, Jacksonville has reported 115 criminal homicides in 2023, according to data from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Meanwhile, San Francisco has reported 51 homicides to date in 2023, according to data from the San Francisco Police Department.
Newsom continued to point out how Florida has had “one of the worst mass shootings in American history,” referring to the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, which left 17 people dead and 17 others injured.
“With respect, I appreciate your talking to police officers in the state of California, you may want to spend a little bit more time not on the Ohio trail and other places across this country,” Newsom told DeSantis. “You may spend a little more time back in your home state and address the murder and gun violence in your own backyard.”
In response to Newsom, DeSantis labeled him a “slick politician” who was “trying to spin” the data Hannity provided showed that California had a crime rate of roughly 500 offenses per 100,000 and Florida had roughly 250 offenses per 100,000.
“That’s almost twice as much, and he’s trying to spin that to say California’s doing good,” DeSantis fired back.