Gov. Gavin Newsom has been ramping up his campaign for president, again, even as key California Democrats urge him to focus on the job at hand.
Which voice will he listen to? The sensible one on his right shoulder telling him to do his job or the flattering one on his left shoulder telling him he’s exactly what America needs.
Newsom has treated the governorship as merely a springboard for higher office since he was elected in 2018, preferring appeals to national audiences over actually solving problems – problems upon which a more attentive governor might have made progress.
But Newsom is not an attentive governor. He governs for headlines, expecting to have gotten a promotion by the time the lack of results comes in.
Take his recent call for a special session to “protect California values,” which he announced two days after the presidential election. It’s the same playbook he used during Trump’s first term, when Newsom’s only real concern was fighting the president.
But if this special session is anything like the one Newsom called two months ago, purportedly to lower gas prices but will actually increase them, Californians should brace for lots of photo opps and the cost of living to get more expensive and not much more than that.
Though Newsom seems to have a renewed vigor now that he can resume running for president, others seem to be urging him to take his current job seriously.
“I don’t believe Gov. Newsom was elected to be the governor of the resistance,” Sen. Laphonza Butler recently said. “I hope that the lesson from any of this is a reminder for all of us that we are public servants, that we are here to serve the people who send us, and the governor of California has to be the governor of all of California.”
Remember, Newsom appointed Butler to her position and she is an ally; she’s not a member of the vast right-wing conspiracy he usually blames criticism on.
Butler is not alone. Newsom’s predecessor, former Gov. Jerry Brown, recently offered similar advice in an interview with Fox 11’s Elex Michaelson.
“Do your job,” Brown said, drawing on his own experience of running for president while governor. “If you start going for the brass ring and not paying attention to what they elected you to do, they don’t like it. And my poll numbers would validate that claim.”
To be fair, neither Brown nor Butler seemed to be attacking Newsom. But their urgings were noteworthy nonetheless.
Newsom has two years remaining in his second and final term. Is he going to spend them showboating, like he did for the first six years? Or is he going to try to craft sensible policies that might actually lead to change?
Newsom’s actions in recent days suggest the former. He made headlines for pronouncing that California would step in and offer rebates for electric vehicles if incoming President Donald Trump eliminates the federal program.
On its face, it seemed like a logical step for a Democratic governor to take (setting aside whether these rebates are effective and a good use of money). But as with all things Newsom, there’s a political catch. Apparently, Newsom’s plan would exclude Tesla, the most popular EV manufacturer in the United States, which is owned by Elon Musk, who had fallen out of favor with Democrats even before he endorsed Trump.
“Tesla makes over 550,000 vehicles in Fremont in my district & employs over 20,000,” progressive California Congressman Ro Khanna posted on X. “Let’s not play politics with keeping manufacturing in California. It would be foolish to exclude Tesla.”
Foolish indeed. But Newsom doesn’t seem to learn… or care. If history is any guide, he’s going to settle for short term political gain over long term policy consequences as he reaches for the presidency.
Californians need relief from the exorbitant cost of living. Newsom could start to help by addressing the housing crisis with meaningful regulatory reform that would spur new housing developments.
Newsom could roll back a terrible decision made recently by unelected bureaucrats that will increase the cost of gas by an estimated $1.50 per gallon within the next decade.
Newsom could abandon the high-speed rail project that is billions over budget, years behind schedule, and has no viable path forward – and then use the savings for tax relief.
Newsom could look to improve California’s worst-in-the-nation adult literacy rates, he could lead the charge in turning around California’s failing public schools and he could speed up approval and development of water storage projects to prepare for the next drought.
Newsom could champion real solutions for soaring energy prices that are crippling California households and improve grid sustainability.
Newsom needs the Legislature and doesn’t have the unilateral power to accomplish most of these things on his own, but any of these issues would be grounds for a special session than what he’s sought so far.
This list is not complete – there are many more problems plaguing Californians. But making headway on even one of the challenges listed above would make a tremendous difference in the lives of Californians.
Heck, it might even help Newsom run for president.
Follow Matt Fleming on X @FlemingWords
