Newsom and his team have successfully tapped into the need that many rank-and-file Democrats have for adopting a confrontational approach to Trump and his policies. But few people outside of California know much about the governor’s actual record — and many Democratic voters will be turned off to learn that his fervent opposition to a billionaire tax is part of an overall political approach that has trended more and more corporate-friendly.
A year ago, Newsom sent about 100 leaders of California-based companies a prepaid cell phone “programmed with Newsom’s digits and accompanied by notes from the governor himself,” POLITICO reported. One note to the CEO of a big tech corporation said, “If you ever need anything, I’m a phone call away.” While pandering to business elites, Newsom has slashed budgets to assist the poor and near-poor with healthcare, housing and food – in a state where seven million live under the official poverty line and child poverty rates are the highest in the nation.
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“Governor Newsom’s reluctance to propose meaningful revenue solutions to help blunt the harm of federal cuts undermines his posture to counter the Trump administration.” The statement said that the proposed budget “will leave many Californians without food assistance and healthcare coverage.”
So far, key facts about Newsom’s policy priorities have scarcely gone beyond California’s borders. “National media have focused on Newsom as a personality and potential White House candidate and have almost completely ignored what he has and has not done as a governor,” said columnist Dan Walters, whose five decades covering California politics included 33 years at the Sacramento Bee. “It’s a perpetual failing of national political media to be more interested in image and gamesmanship rather than actual actions, the sizzle rather than the steak, and Newsom is very adept at exploiting that tendency.”
Also see https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/10/gavin-newsom-presidential-candidate-democrats
Like Trump, Newsom breaks promises, serves billionaire interests and mistakes social media theatrics for leadership. Is that really what American voters will want in 2028? After Richard Nixon, Americans chose Jimmy Carter. After George W Bush, they chose Barack Obama. After Trump, they’ll likely want change – authentic, strong, moral leadership, a leader with competence and vision.
Okay… word it in whatever way paints the prettiest picture of hopeful rhetoric as you’d like, however, at the end of the day, you’re basically saying you refuse to vote against a fascist unless the person running against them meets some weird purity test that defies gradation.
It’s pretty fucking simple bud…. If we have no other options you FUCKING VOTE AGAINST the FASCIST. There is no debating this.
I honestly cannot believe we’re still having to teach this shit to people.
Never said I refused to vote, never said the candidate had to be perfect.
What you seem to refuse to understand is that we have far better options than Gavin Newsom both from a policy standpoint and an electability standpoint.
Get out of here with your accusations I have some weird purity test, I am applying basic political competency standards here and Gavin fails them desperately.
LMAO…
Two years prior to an election, you’re already salivating over anyone that isn’t him. You done even know who that is- but NOT Gavin is clearly your angle here
This is as bad faith as it gets and whatever you’re up to, I have doubts that it has anything to do with what you’re on about.
Right, now is too early and later will be too late I know how this one goes…
Okay buddy. You keep saying that. I’m sure someone will be dumb enough to believe it.