DeSantis offers support to California as Hurricane Hilary bears down

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday pledged support to Californians with Hurricane Hilary bearing down on the state, offering to help “in any way we can.”

“Hurricane Hilary is approaching Southern California and is projected to make landfall as a tropical storm,” DeSantis wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “In Florida, we know how challenging storms can be and have significant experience responding in their wake -- we stand ready to help the people of California in any way we can.”

California officials said they appreciated the offer of support.

The Florida governor’s message echoes a 2022 statement from California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office pledging Californians’ support for the Sunshine State in the wake of Hurricane Ian. California later dispatched a five-person team of mass-care experts after the Florida Division of Emergency Management requested aid.

Hurricane Hilary is expected to make landfall on the Mexican peninsula Saturday night and is set to hit Southern California as a tropical storm by Sunday. The National Hurricane Center predicts that the storm — the first of its kind since 1939 — will bring "catastrophic and life-threatening flooding" in the region.

Newsom's office released a statement on Friday warning Californians of the coming storm and detailing the state's mobilization of water rescue and National Guard teams as well as precautions and shelter for unhoused people.

DeSantis’ offer of help also comes amid a brewing rivalry between the Florida and California governors, both of whom harbor presidential ambitions, with DeSantis running for the GOP nomination in 2024 and Newsom widely believed to be preparing a run for the Democratic nomination in 2028.

The two governors have increasingly butted heads over DeSantis’ program of transporting migrants to Democratic cities — including Sacramento — with both governors agreeing to debate on Fox News in November.