Adam Putnam, Ron DeSantis to appear in debate tonight

TALLAHASSEE Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis will square off in Kissimmee tonight in the first major debate of the Republican gubernatorial primary, kicking into high gear a race that has significance beyond who will be the GOP nominee for governor this fall.

The campaign pits Putnam, an establishment favorite, against DeSantis, a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump and his agenda.

“This is kind of a proxy fight for the future of the Republican Party,” said DeSantis campaign spokesman Brad Herold. “You’ve got an old-guard establishment Republican who was pretty cold on the president, refused to endorse him before the [convention], wouldn’t campaign with him, and you have someone who is one of [Trump’s] most staunch defenders in Congress.”

DeSantis received Trump’s Twitter endorsement on Friday but trails in recent polls to Putnam.

“The stakes are pretty high for both candidates,” said UCF political science professor Aubrey Jewett. “Over 50 percent of the voters haven’t made a choice yet between the top two nominees. For Putnam, I’m sure he’s glad he’s ahead in the polls, but he can’t be feeling too comfortable.

“And for DeSantis, although he would rather be in first than in second, he certainly has reason for optimism that he can grow his base,” Jewett added.

The one-hour debate, which will be nationally televised on Fox News starting at 6:30 p.m., is the main event of the Florida Republican Party’s two-day summit at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center.