Gavin Newsom
2019 - Present
2027
4
Gavin Newsom (Democratic Party) is the Governor of California. He assumed office on January 7, 2019. His current term ends on January 4, 2027.
Newsom (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for Governor of California. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Newsom was retained in a recall election on September 14, 2021.
Newsom served as lieutenant governor of California from 2011 to 2019. Before becoming lieutenant governor, Newsom served as mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2010. He was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 1997 to 2004 and sat on the city's Parking and Traffic Commission from 1996 to 1997.[1]
Biography
Newsom was born in San Francisco, California. He is the son of former California Courts of Appeal Judge William Newsom (1978-1995).[2] Newsom attended Redwood High School where he played basketball and baseball. After graduating from Redwood in 1985, Newsom attended Santa Clara University on a partial baseball scholarship.[3] He was a pitcher on the baseball team for two years before an injury ended his playing career.[4] Newsom graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1989.[5]
In 1992, Newsom opened a wine shop that grew into the Plumpjack Group. The company includes wineries, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, and retail stores.[6][1] Newsom’s ownership interest in the company was placed into a blind trust when he became governor in 2018.[7][8]
In 1996, Mayor Willie Brown appointed Newsom to the San Francisco Parking and Traffic Commission and then to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1997.[3] Newsom won election to remain on the board from 1998 to 2002 until being elected as the city's mayor in 2004.[1] He served as mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2010, when he became the lieutenant governor of California. Newsom served as lieutenant governor until being elected as governor of the state in 2018.[9] He was retained in a recall election in 2021.[10]
Newsom was married to television host Kimberly Guilfoyle from 2001 to 2006. He married Jennifer Seibel in 2008, and they have four children together.[1] Newsom is Roman Catholic.[11]
Career
Below is an abbreviated outline of Newsom’s academic, professional, and political career.
- 2019-Present: Governor of California
- 2010-2019: Lieutenant Governor of California
- 2004-2010: Mayor of San Francisco, California
- 1997-2004: San Francisco Board of Supervisors
- 1996: San Francisco Parking and Traffic Commission
- 1992-Present: Owner, PlumpJack Group
Governor of California (2019-present)
2022 election
In 2022, Newsom was re-elected Governor of California with 59.2% of the vote over Republican state Senator Brian Dahle.[12] Newsom raised $25.2 million for the election- almost ten times as much money as Dahle raised.[13] Newsom used his campaign funds to run ads across the country promoting California as a place to seek abortion.[14]
Recall election (2021)
By a vote of 61.9% to 38.1%, Newsom was retained in a recall election on September 14, 2021. Roughly 12.8 million voters participated in the election. To see the results of the replacement candidate question, click here.
Voters were asked the following questions: whether Newsom should be recalled, and, if so, who should replace him. A majority vote was required on the first question for the governor to be recalled. If Newsom had been recalled, the candidate with the most votes on the second question would have won the election, no majority required.[15]
Forty-six candidates, including nine Democrats and 24 Republicans, ran in the election. Approximately 7.4 million voters selected a candidate on the second question. The five candidates to receive the most votes were: radio host Larry Elder (R) with 48.4%, YouTuber Kevin Paffrath (D) with 9.6%, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer (R) with 8.0%, doctor Brandon Ross (D) with 5.3%, and 2018 gubernatorial candidate John Cox (R) with 4.1%. Eight other candidates received at least 1% of the vote.
Recall supporters said Newsom mishandled the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic, did not do enough to address the state's homelessness rate, and supported sanctuary city policies and water rationing.[16] Newsom called the effort a "Republican recall — backed by the RNC, anti-mask and anti-vax extremists, and pro-Trump forces who want to overturn the last election and have opposed much of what we have done to fight the pandemic."[17]
At the time of Newsom's recall election, there had been 55 attempts to recall a governor since California adopted the process in 1911. The only successful effort was in 2003 when voters recalled then-Gov. Gray Davis (D). Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) was elected as Davis' replacement.[18][19] In that election, 135 candidates ran and the winner received 48.6% of the vote.
2018 election
In 2018, Newsom won election to his first term as governor of California, defeating Republican businessman John Cox by a margin of 61.9% to 38.1%. Newsom raised $58.2 million for the election to Cox’s $16.8 million.[20]
Lieutenant governor of California (2011-2019)
In 2009, Newsom announced he was running for governor of California in the 2010 election. He dropped out of the race in October 2009 due to low polling.[21] Instead, Newsom ran for lieutenant governor, officially announcing his candidacy in March 2010. He was elected on November 2, 2010, and served under Governor Jerry Brown (D).[22] He was re-elected on November 4, 2014.[23]
Mayor of San Francisco (2004-2010)
Newsom was elected mayor of San Francisco in 2003. He placed first in a nine-person field with 41.9% of the vote, leading to a run-off against Green Party candidate Matt Gonzalez who garnered 19.6% of the vote.[24] Newsom won with 53% to Gonzalez’s 47%.[25][26] He was sworn in on January 8, 2004.[27][28]
In 2007, Newsom won re-election with 73% of the vote.[29]
Elections
2022
See also: California gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Governor of California
Incumbent Gavin Newsom defeated Brian Dahle in the general election for Governor of California on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Gavin Newsom (D) | 59.2 | 6,470,104 |
 | Brian Dahle (R) | 40.8 | 4,462,914 | |
| Total votes: 10,933,018 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Governor of California
The following candidates ran in the primary for Governor of California on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gavin Newsom (D) | 55.9 | 3,945,748 |
| ✔ | | Brian Dahle (R) | 17.7 | 1,252,800 |
 | Michael Shellenberger (Independent) | 4.1 | 290,286 | |
 | Jenny Rae Le Roux (R) | 3.5 | 246,665 | |
 | Anthony Trimino (R) | 3.5 | 246,322 | |
 | Shawn Collins (R) | 2.5 | 173,083 | |
 | Luis Rodriguez (G) | 1.8 | 124,672 | |
 | Leo Zacky (R) | 1.3 | 94,521 | |
 | Major Williams (R) | 1.3 | 92,580 | |
 | Robert Newman (R) | 1.2 | 82,849 | |
 | Joel Ventresca (D) | 0.9 | 66,885 | |
 | David Lozano (R) | 0.9 | 66,542 | |
 | Ronald Anderson (R) | 0.8 | 53,554 | |
 | Reinette Senum (Independent) | 0.8 | 53,015 | |
 | Armando Perez-Serrato (D) | 0.6 | 45,474 | |
 | Ron Jones (R) | 0.5 | 38,337 | |
 | Daniel Mercuri (R) | 0.5 | 36,396 | |
 | Heather Collins (G) | 0.4 | 29,690 | |
 | Anthony Fanara (D) | 0.4 | 25,086 | |
 | Cristian Morales (R) | 0.3 | 22,304 | |
 | Lonnie Sortor (R) | 0.3 | 21,044 | |
 | Frederic Schultz (Independent) | 0.2 | 17,502 | |
 | Woodrow Sanders III (Independent) | 0.2 | 16,204 | |
 | James Hanink (Independent) | 0.1 | 10,110 | |
 | Serge Fiankan (Independent) | 0.1 | 6,201 | |
 | Bradley Zink (Independent) | 0.1 | 5,997 | |
| Jeff Scott (American Independent Party) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 13 | |
| Gurinder Bhangoo (R) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 8 | |
| Total votes: 7,063,888 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Errol Webber (R)
- Laura Smith (R)
- Chaz Flemmings (Independent)
- John Drake (D)
- Mohammad Arif (D)
- Hilaire Shioura (Independent)
Campaign finance
2021
Gavin Newsom yes/no recall question
Gavin Newsom recall, 2021
Gavin Newsom won the Governor of California recall election on September 14, 2021.
Recall Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
Yes |
38.1
|
4,894,473 | |||
| ✔ | No |
61.9
|
7,944,092 | ||
Total Votes |
12,838,565 | ||||
|
|
Gavin Newsom replacement question
General election
Special general election for Governor of California
The following candidates ran in the special general election for Governor of California on September 14, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
 | Larry Elder (R) | 48.4 | 3,563,867 | |
 | Kevin Paffrath (D) | 9.6 | 706,778 | |
 | Kevin Faulconer (R) | 8.0 | 590,346 | |
 | Brandon Ross (D) | 5.3 | 392,029 | |
 | John Cox (R) | 4.1 | 305,095 | |
 | Kevin Kiley (R) | 3.5 | 255,490 | |
 | Jacqueline McGowan (D) | 2.9 | 214,242 | |
| Joel Ventresca (D) | 2.5 | 186,345 | |
 | Daniel Watts (D) | 2.3 | 167,355 | |
 | Holly Baade (D) | 1.3 | 92,218 | |
 | Patrick Kilpatrick (D) | 1.2 | 86,617 | |
| Armando Perez-Serrato (D) | 1.2 | 85,061 | |
 | Caitlyn Jenner (R) | 1.0 | 75,215 | |
 | John Drake (D) | 0.9 | 68,545 | |
 | Daniel Kapelovitz (G) | 0.9 | 64,375 | |
 | Jeff Hewitt (L) | 0.7 | 50,378 | |
 | Ted Gaines (R) | 0.7 | 47,937 | |
 | Angelyne (No party preference) | 0.5 | 35,900 | |
 | David Moore (No party preference) | 0.4 | 31,224 | |
| Anthony Trimino (R) | 0.4 | 28,101 | |
 | Doug Ose (R) (Unofficially withdrew) | 0.4 | 26,204 | |
 | Michael Loebs (No party preference) | 0.3 | 25,468 | |
| Heather Collins (G) | 0.3 | 24,260 | |
 | Major Singh (No party preference) | 0.3 | 21,394 | |
| David Lozano (R) | 0.3 | 19,945 | |
 | Denver Stoner (R) | 0.3 | 19,588 | |
 | Samuel Gallucci (R) | 0.2 | 18,134 | |
 | Steven Chavez Lodge (R) | 0.2 | 17,435 | |
| Jenny Rae Le Roux (R) | 0.2 | 16,032 | |
 | David Bramante (R) | 0.2 | 11,501 | |
 | Diego Martinez (R) | 0.1 | 10,860 | |
| Robert Newman (R) | 0.1 | 10,602 | |
 | Sarah Stephens (R) | 0.1 | 10,583 | |
 | Dennis Richter (No party preference) | 0.1 | 10,468 | |
| Major Williams (R) (Write-in) | 0.1 | 8,965 | |
 | Denis Lucey (No party preference) | 0.1 | 8,182 | |
| James Hanink (No party preference) | 0.1 | 7,193 | |
| Daniel Mercuri (R) | 0.1 | 7,110 | |
 | Chauncey Killens (R) | 0.1 | 6,879 | |
| Leo Zacky (R) | 0.1 | 6,099 | |
 | Kevin Kaul (No party preference) | 0.1 | 5,600 | |
 | David Hillberg (R) | 0.1 | 4,435 | |
 | Adam Papagan (No party preference) | 0.1 | 4,021 | |
 | Rhonda Furin (R) | 0.1 | 3,964 | |
 | Nickolas Wildstar (R) | 0.1 | 3,811 | |
 | Jeremiah Marciniak (No party preference) | 0.0 | 2,894 | |
 | Joe Symmon (R) | 0.0 | 2,397 | |
| Miki Habryn (No party preference) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 137 | |
| Roxanne (D) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 116 | |
| Stacy Smith (D) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 81 | |
| Vivek Mohan (No party preference) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 68 | |
| Thuy Hugens (American Independent Party) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 19 | |
| Vince Lundgren (No party preference) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 5 | |
Vote totals may be incomplete for this race. | ||||
| Total votes: 7,361,568 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joseph Amey (American Independent Party)
- Karen Blake (R)
- Mariana Dawson (No party preference)
- Veronika Fimbres (G)
- Elizabeth Floyd (No party preference)
- Wayne Frazier (R)
- Timothy Herode (R)
- Luis Huang (D)
- Jimih Jones (R)
- Paul Mesrop Kurdian (No party preference)
- Carla Canada (No party preference)
- Mary Cook (No party preference)
- Torr Leonard (D)
- Jeremy Lupoli (D)
- Louis J. Marinelli, III (R)
- Christopher Mason (R)
- John Pierce (R)
- Patrick Rakus, Jr. (R)
- Frank Wade (D)
- Marc Roth (No party preference)
- Christopher Carlson (G)
- Douglas Deitch (D)
- Bryan Farley (D)
- Justin Hubbard (R)
- Jason Dixon (D)
- Sean Harrison (R)
- Ronald Palmieri (D)
- Ben Zandpour (No party preference)
- Robert Davidson Griffis (D)
- A. Shantz (G)
- Adam Hadjinian (No party preference)
- Michael Lynn Gabriel (No party preference)
- Hilaire Shioura (No party preference)
- Lee Olson (No party preference)
- Joseph Luciano (R)
- Steven Fitzgerald (R)
- Anthony Fanara (D)
- Jemiss Nazar (No party preference)
- Kevin Abushi (R)
2018
General election
General election for Governor of California
Gavin Newsom defeated John Cox in the general election for Governor of California on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gavin Newsom (D) | 61.9 | 7,721,410 |
| John Cox (R) | 38.1 | 4,742,825 | |
| Total votes: 12,464,235 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Governor of California
The following candidates ran in the primary for Governor of California on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gavin Newsom (D) | 33.7 | 2,343,792 |
| ✔ | | John Cox (R) | 25.4 | 1,766,488 |
 | Antonio Villaraigosa (D) | 13.3 | 926,394 | |
 | Travis Allen (R) | 9.5 | 658,798 | |
 | John Chiang (D) | 9.4 | 655,920 | |
 | Delaine Eastin (D) | 3.4 | 234,869 | |
 | Amanda Renteria (D) | 1.3 | 93,446 | |
| Robert Newman (R) | 0.6 | 44,674 | |
| Michael Shellenberger (D) | 0.5 | 31,692 | |
| Peter Yuan Liu (R) | 0.4 | 27,336 | |
 | Yvonne Girard (R) | 0.3 | 21,840 | |
 | Gloria La Riva (Peace and Freedom Party) | 0.3 | 19,075 | |
| Juan Bribiesca (D) | 0.3 | 17,586 | |
 | Josh Jones (G) | 0.2 | 16,131 | |
 | Zoltan Gyurko Istvan (L) | 0.2 | 14,462 | |
| Albert Caesar Mezzetti (D) | 0.2 | 12,026 | |
| Nickolas Wildstar (L) | 0.2 | 11,566 | |
| Robert Davidson Griffis (D) | 0.2 | 11,103 | |
 | Akinyemi Agbede (D) | 0.1 | 9,380 | |
| Thomas Jefferson Cares (D) | 0.1 | 8,937 | |
 | Christopher Carlson (G) | 0.1 | 7,302 | |
 | Klement Tinaj (D) | 0.1 | 5,368 | |
 | Hakan Mikado (Independent) | 0.1 | 5,346 | |
| Johnny Wattenburg (Independent) | 0.1 | 4,973 | |
 | Desmond Silveira (Independent) | 0.1 | 4,633 | |
 | Shubham Goel (Independent) | 0.1 | 4,020 | |
| Jeffrey Edward Taylor (Independent) | 0.1 | 3,973 | |
| Total votes: 6,961,130 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Boris Romanowsky (Independent)
- Robert Kleinberger (R)
- Lindsey Neil Shortland (Independent)
- George Konik (R)
- Scot Sturtevant (Independent)
- Ted Crisell (D)
- James Tran (Independent)
- Jacob Morris (R)
- Michael Bilger (Independent)
- Andy Blanch (Independent)
- Daniel Amare (R)
- David Bush (Independent)
- David Hadley (R)
- Grant Handzlik (Independent)
- David Asem (D)
- Stasyi Barth (R)
- Michael Bracamontes (D)
- Analila Joya (Independent)
- Harmesh Kumar (D)
- Joshua Laine (Independent)
- John Leslie-Brown (R)
- Frederic Prinz von Anhalt (Independent)
- Timothy Richardson (Independent)
- Brian Domingo (R)
- Doug Ose (R)
2014
| Lieutenant Governor of California, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Gavin Newsom Incumbent |
57.2% | 4,107,051 | |
| Republican | Ron Nehring | 42.8% | 3,078,039 | |
| Total Votes | 7,185,090 | |||
| Election results via California Secretary of State | ||||
| Lieutenant Governor of California, Blanket Primary, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Gavin Newsom Incumbent |
49.9% | 2,082,902 | |
| Republican | Ron Nehring |
23.4% | 976,128 | |
| Republican | David Fennell | 8.6% | 357,242 | |
| Republican | George Yang | 8% | 333,857 | |
| Democratic | Eric Korevaar | 5.6% | 232,596 | |
| Green | Jena Goodman | 2.4% | 98,338 | |
| Americans Elect | Alan Reynolds | 1.3% | 56,027 | |
| Peace and Freedom | Amos Johnson | 0.9% | 39,675 | |
| Total Votes | 4,176,765 | |||
| Election results California Secretary of State | ||||
2010
| 2010 California lieutenant gubernatorial general election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Democratic Party |  Gavin Newsom
|
50.12% | |
| Republican Party | Abel Maldonado | 39.94% | |
| Green Party | James Castillo | 1.67% | |
| Libertarian Party | Pamela J. Brown | 5.86% | |
| American Independent Party | Jim King | 1.88% | |
| Peace and Freedom Party | C.T. Weber | 1.19% | |
| NP | Karen England | 0.36% | |
| Total Votes | 9,813,130 | ||
Primary election
- Newsom won the Democratic primary race with 55% of the vote.
| 2010 Race for Lieutenant Governor - Democrat Primary[30] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Percentage | |||
| Janice Hahn (D) | 33.3% | |||
 Gavin Newsom (D)
|
55.8% | |||
| Eric Korevaar (D) | 10.9% | |||
| Total votes | 2,346,324 | |||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Gavin Newsom did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2021
Gavin Newsom did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Campaign website
Newsom's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Championing California's Values California’s values aren’t just a point of pride - they are the very fabric of the state’s history, identity, and future. At a time when actions by the Trump Administration are further disenfranchising the poor, women, and people of color, California must step up and defend its residents – advancing policies grounded in both compassion and innovation. California is the fifth largest economy in the world, and continues to show the world that an economy can thrive when it protects workers’ rights, environmental protections, civil rights, and vulnerable communities. Gavin understands that California remains an engine of economic growth when we stick up for our values. Gavin has boldly led the charge for major social change campaigns his whole life. He has fought for what’s right and won results that are making a real difference in people’s lives. He believes that the state government ought to reflect the values of its people, not the other way around. More than ever, America needs California’s example, to prove that old fears and prejudices need not be the new normal, and to match resistance with results. As Governor, Gavin will: Defend California’s Immigrant Communities California is home to more immigrants than any other state, and half of all California children have at least one immigrant parent. Immigrants are an integral part of California’s economy, culture, and workforce. Gavin believes we have an economic and moral imperative to protect our state’s immigrants and help them thrive, particularly our students, who are the future of our state’s workforce and economic growth. That’s why he has defended California’s status as a Sanctuary State, called for the state’s public colleges and universities to be sanctuary campuses, and added his voice calling on Congress to pass a clean DREAM Act. Communities across California are coming together to alert immigrants of ICE activity and ensure that their neighbors’ civil rights are protected. As Governor, Gavin will support these efforts and ensure the government is doing its part with funding for immigrant legal defense. Our commitment must also include building protections for immigrants in the workplace. By one estimate, undocumented immigrants make up 10% of the state’s workforce, and too often fall victim to wage theft, safety violations, and other predatory abuses. Gavin has consistently supported legislative efforts to stem underground economy abuses such as preventing wage theft, and protecting immigrant workers’ rights, personal privacy and safety. As Governor, he will ensure that the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, Department of Justice, and other relevant agencies are fully resourced and trained to prioritize our immigrant communities in particular.
The Trump Administration is working overtime to erode decades of progress, from reversing the birth control mandate and removing Obama-era protections for equal pay, to fostering the worst representation of women in positions of leadership in years. The wage gap is persistent, the wealth gap is staggering, and the disparities are even worse for women of color. Gavin is committed to closing that gap. We'll do it by increasing workplace protections for women that address discrimination and wage transparency; expanding access to STEM and other fields, building a pipeline for women to high-paying jobs while simultaneously lifting up women in low-wage and service industry jobs; and by empowering women in California by implementing policies that support working families: universal preschool, high-quality, affordable child care, and expanded family and sick leave because a parent should never be forced to choose between a job and taking care of a newborn. Gavin will create a healthcare system that supports women’s reproductive rights - where being a woman is not considered a pre-existing condition - and will continue to be a fierce advocate for Planned Parenthood funding and a woman’s legal right to make her own healthcare decisions.
Gavin believes that the #MeToo movement is an important cultural moment, and he applauds the courage of women who have come forward to share their stories. The behavior they have reported and described is beyond disgusting and repugnant – sexual harassment and violence is criminal and inexcusable. We must do more to ensure that women are treated equally across industries, and we need everyone, not just women, to speak out and continue to challenge the culture that has allowed, enabled and encouraged this behavior. Everyday, Gavin seeks to be a model - not just for his two daughters - but also for his two sons. There is a crisis of toxic masculinity among our men and boys in this country, and we must tackle it head on. As Governor, he will institute accountability measures across state government, and support strengthening workplace protections such as creating hotlines for victims, transparent, independent, swift investigations, and real consequences for abusers and harassers. And as he did as Mayor, he’ll lead by example by appointing an administration that achieves gender parity, with women in positions of real influence, the number one predictor of a safe working environment for women.
The Supreme Court’s historic decision to enshrine marriage equality as the law of the land was a milestone for the LGBT community but new threats are emerging from Washington D.C.: a President intent on rolling back protections, a Vice President who believes in conversion therapy, and a Congress using “bathroom bills” as a wedge issue to divide us. As Governor, Gavin will continue to be a national voice for the LGBT community, urging Congress to protect Ryan White Care Act, Planned Parenthood and Medicare funding, and to once and for all pass the Equality Act. Recent reports have indicated a rising level of hate crimes targeted towards the LGBT community and an alarming rate of LGBT youth suicides. We must establish a zero-tolerance policy against hate in our schools, strengthen hate crime protections for victims, and punish perpetrators of these heinous crimes. As part of our commitment to tackling the housing and homelessness crisis, we will hone in on the unique needs of LGBT youth experiencing homelessness and the challenges facing LGBT seniors in securing affordable housing. Gavin will expand training and employment services for all Californians, but particularly for the transgender community, which too often faces workplace discrimination. As Governor, Gavin will launch a statewide Getting to Zero initiative, fighting to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, the HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) epidemics. This plan, which will align new and existing resources to prevent, treat, and end the stigma associated with these conditions, would be the first state in the nation to address both HIV and HCV simultaneously.
Over-incarceration has failed us in America. The United States has 5 percent of the global population yet 25 percent of the world’s prisoners. In 2013, there were more African Americans incarcerated, on probation, or on parole in the U.S. than were enslaved in 1850. Everyone agrees that punishment for violent offenders should be severe. One of the core functions of government is to ensure safety on our streets - but when individuals who are caught up in the criminal justice system, who pose no threat to public safety, get caught up in the revolving door, that leaves society with enormous costs. As Governor, Gavin will support prevention programs that help at-risk youth stay out of the criminal justice system, and rehabilitation and diversion programs to help non-violent criminals rebuild their lives and contribute to our society. Gavin understands that supporting criminal justice reform not only benefits our economy and provides cost savings to our state - it keeps our communities safe. There are gross racial and socioeconomic inequities in our criminal justice system, which is why Gavin is proud to be the only statewide official to endorse all five major criminal justice ballot initiatives including sentencing reform, three strikes reform and repeal of the death penalty. He led the coalition to decriminalize cannabis, taking a bold step forward towards ending the failed war on drugs. As Governor, Gavin will continue to step up and step in to this debate. Most people in American jails have not yet been to trial, and the vast majority remain locked up merely because they can’t afford cash bail. That’s why Gavin has called for an end to the cash bail system because freedom in California should not be conditional on a person’s ATM balance. And he’s committed to bringing about an end to for-profit prisons, which contribute to over-incarceration.
Over the past 25 years, California has passed some of the strongest gun safety laws in the nation, including Gavin’s “Safety for All” initiative, which keeps guns and ammunition out of the hands of violent, dangerous, hateful people. Despite our progress, on average 32,000 Americans are killed every year as a result of senseless gun violence. This is a public health crisis and an epidemic that has stolen far too many lives. As Governor, Gavin will ensure that California remains a national model of gun safety reform and will keep the pressure on Congress to once and for all, demonstrate some courage, and pass common-sense gun safety legislation.
California is home to more veterans than any other state – nearly two million strong. These heroes have provided a great service to our nation, and it’s our responsibility to meet their needs when they come home. That begins with the fundamentals – housing, education, medical care, and a good paying job – for both veterans and their families. As Governor, Gavin will focus attention on ending veteran homelessness, ensure access to adequate housing, develop innovative transition programs to promote veteran hiring and create incentives for veteran-owned businesses, and crack down on predatory for-profit colleges who exploit the GI Bill benefits earned by veterans and their families. We must prioritize research, prevention, and treatment efforts related to mental health issues like post-traumatic stress, substance abuse, depression and suicide, physical injuries, and invest in CalVet Homes to ensure veterans are receiving the treatment and support they need. Gavin will protect California DACA recipients who join the active-duty military and will never use the National Guard as a tool for the Trump Administration’s draconian immigration policies. He will protect transgender National Guard members by supporting state litigation against the Trump Administration’s transgender military ban, and will work to prevent sexual assault in the National Guard by advocating for the federal Military Justice Improvement Act.
The Affordable Care Act represented a critical step forward in the long struggle to win affordable, quality healthcare for all, but much work remains to be done. Even with the expansion of Medi-Cal and the availability of significant subsidies to help low and middle income families purchase coverage through the state exchange, millions of working Californians will remain uninsured as the price of coverage remains prohibitive, especially for those living in high cost areas. Now the Trump Administration is threatening these gains. President Trump and congressional Republicans successfully repealed the individual mandate, a move that will yield major premium hikes and strip millions of Americans of their insurance. As Governor, Gavin will fight to protect the ACA – but he understands that we can’t wait for the federal government to act. For Gavin, the phrase “health care is a human right” is more than a political cliché. It’s a sacred promise we must keep, which is why he'll ensure California leads the way on a plan to guarantee quality healthcare for everyone financed through a single-payer model like Medicare. We can create a more efficient, effective, and comprehensive healthcare system that works for patients and providers alike, available regardless of one’s ability to pay, pre-existing medical conditions, or immigration status, and including coverage not only for physical, but also mental and behavioral health issues. The status quo isn't working. A UCLA study determined that Californians are already spending $367.5 billion annually on healthcare - and that number continues to escalate. We must end the costly conveyor belt of paperwork and co-pays and allow providers to focus on patient care. As Mayor, Gavin created Healthy SF, which even today remains the only citywide and countywide universal health program in the nation. The program has paid for itself many times over in the form of preventative care and healthier outcomes. It’s time to do the same for the state.
In any given year, one in four families in California deal with a mental health condition. Across the state, 134,000 people are living on the streets, a third of them suffering with progressed stages of mental illness. One-third of the people living behind bars also deal with a brain illness, making our jails de facto asylums. Students struggle in silence with depression and anxiety. As Governor, Gavin will pursue an aggressive agenda to lift California’s approach to mental healthcare into a national model. His administration will work with top public policy and research groups to review our state’s delivery system and draw on best practices across the globe to create a more effective leadership structure. He will prioritize prevention and early intervention, and pursue a system of care in which the goal is to identify and intervene in brain illness at Stage 1, just as we do for cancer or heart disease. Gavin will work to ensure every public and private college in the state adopts comprehensive strategies for raising awareness of symptoms of mental illness, identifying students at risk, and providing support services - and will call on every college to implement evidence-based suicide prevention policies. He will ensure our law enforcement officers and courts have the necessary training to provide treatment for mental illness, and will allocate important resources to combat the opioid epidemic. In addition to expanding access to care, Gavin will amplify efforts to eliminate the stigma that keeps too many people from reaching out for the care they need.
The Trump Administration is hard at work gutting the regulatory power and chipping away at the independence of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Gavin believes there is a significant opportunity for California to lead the way and assume a robust role in safeguarding consumer financial rights, especially in the face of an administration that is choosing corporate interests over the well-being of families. Predatory lenders and predatory for-profit colleges are thriving at the expense of hardworking men, women, and students who are trying to create a better future for their families. While millions of Californians are dealing with crippling debt, predatory lending practices are exacerbating the plight of low and middle-income California households. Gavin will ensure accountability for financial institutions that charge exorbitant interest rates and engage in aggressive debt collection practices. As Governor, he will launch our own state bank to break Wall Street’s chokehold on state finance and provide fair loans through low-interest public financing. Moreover, he will work to ensure that California’s government retains oversight of lending in order to combat the same practices that caused the financial crisis.
California boasts exquisite natural resources but is prone to damaging and deadly wildfires, floods, and earthquakes. We sit at the forefront of innovation as the fifth largest economy in the world but we’re susceptible to cyber-attacks and acts of terrorism. As Governor, Gavin will reinstitute the California Emergency Council, bringing all stakeholders together around one table because disaster planning and recovery requires an integrated, coordinated response. He will ensure his administration is well positioned to react quickly and decisively in the face of natural and man-made disasters - with careful preparation, sufficient funding, and strong inter-governmental partnerships, Gavin will work to protect and defend all Californians from these threats.
Thanks to the hard work of elected leaders and voting rights advocates, California has been insulated from many of the egregious voter suppression practices at play in other states. We have advanced the major reforms that national voter registration advocates call for: online voter registration, automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration, and early voting. As Governor, he will form a close partnership with the Secretary of State to take the next steps in implementation, monitoring and strengthening these reforms. Meanwhile, California continues to face voter participation disparities particularly amongst communities of color and younger voters. Gavin will continue to knock down language, disability, and other barriers to voting and expand access to voter registration opportunities.
Deep racial divides and injustices still exist in this country, and they are being made worse by the policies coming out of this White House. Gavin believes it is a moral imperative for California to lead in addressing these issues in a meaningful way. If we are serious about closing achievement gaps and income gaps, we must get serious about closing the opportunity gap and that begins with doubling down on the readiness gap by emphasizing prenatal care and the first three years of a child’s life. Gavin will work to address the inequities in our public education system, connect our early childhood, K-12 and higher education systems and develop incentives to attract highly qualified educators. He will build economic strength in all California communities by championing the small businesses that power them, including establishing innovative micro-lending programs to assist the growth of minority-owned firms in minority communities. Communities of color often suffer a disproportionate burden from pollution. More than one million Californians live in homes with contaminated drinking water, and they tend to be poor, and predominantly Latino or African American. Gavin will fight for environmental justice and will always listen to impacted communities when making decisions. Gavin is the only statewide official to have supported all five major criminal justice reform proposals that have been voted upon by California voters over the last decade. Now he’s calling for bail reform and is committed to bringing about an end to for-profit prisons. Gavin will also form a close partnership with the California Secretary of State to monitor and strengthen the voting reforms we’ve already passed and continue to knock down language, disability, and other barriers to voting and expand access to voter registration opportunities.
The Newsom family joins two-thirds of California’s households with beloved animal companions that remind Gavin daily of the vast power we hold in our relationship with animals. Gavin is committed to California’s progressive legislation that prevents the exploitation and abuse of animals. As Governor, Gavin will ensure that all California communities have the resources they need to meet the state’s goal that no healthy or treatable dog or cat is euthanized in an animal shelter. He knows that dog breed-specific laws are ineffective at enhancing public safety and jeopardize the welfare of dogs identified as belonging to specific breeds. Gavin is troubled that California is the only state allowing mile-long drift gillnets that entangle iconic ocean marine life. He opposes trophy hunting of bears, bobcats, and endangered species, the recreational and largely unregulated killing of coyotes and foxes, and the use of super-toxic rodenticides that kill non-target wildlife. Gavin knows our state’s fish, wildlife, and habitats are facing critical threats from climate change, expanded human development, and a lack of stable state funding. He is committed to addressing these threats head-on and finding solutions that work for the people and wild animals who call California home. Concern for the welfare of animals is in Gavin’s DNA. His father Bill Newsom served as president of the Mountain Lion Foundation, which spearheaded the campaign that ended sport hunting of mountain lions. Gavin supported the phase-out of toxic lead hunting ammunition, the ban on using dogs to harass bears and bobcats, the end of cruel bullhooks used with elephants in entertainment, the prohibition of trade in shark fins, elephant tusks, and rhinoceros horns, and ending the extreme confinement of egg-laying hens, veal calves and breeding pigs. Eliminating Child Poverty in California Today, one in five of California’s children are living in poverty, amounting to nearly two million – more than any other state in the country. Almost one-third of African American children and one-third of Latino children in California live in poverty. And while our state’s unemployment rate has declined since the Great Recession, our child poverty rate has remained mostly stagnant. That’s a moral outrage. Over the past decade, advances in cognitive research have shown that the stress that comes with growing up in poverty quite literally alters children’s brains, making it nearly impossible for them to focus on their schoolwork. It’s no surprise that study after study shows just how debilitating growing up in poverty is to a kid’s potential in life. It’s correlated with lower educational attainment, lower incomes, increased likelihood of homelessness and, devastatingly, increased likelihood of interacting with the criminal justice system. No kid should be denied a fair shot at success in life because of their parent’s income or the zip code in which they live, but for so many kids in this state, that is all too often the case. Gavin is making the elimination of child poverty the north star of a Newsom administration. Gavin is proposing a two pronged strategy to ensure equal access to opportunity and prosperity for all of our children. First, we must do more to help young people and their families who are currently living in poverty. Second, those efforts must be part of a broader strategy to break the cycle of multi-generational poverty through education and creating real opportunities for economic advancement for every child. As Governor, Gavin will: Create the Foundation for a Strong Start Gavin understands that for children to succeed in school, they must have a strong start, regardless of their family’s income. This includes support for children’s development with expanded access to prenatal services, developmental screenings, and family nurse visits. As a father, Gavin believes that working parents should never be forced to choose between their job and their family. As Governor, he will expand family leave so that families have the flexibility they need to care for their children. And when parents do have to go to work, Gavin wants to ensure all families have access to affordable, high quality childcare. To ensure California’s children have the skills they need to succeed in kindergarten, he will provide access to universal preschool.
Gavin understands that we need to create a college-going culture beginning in elementary school. As Governor, he will launch college savings accounts for every incoming kindergartener, putting higher education within reach. This foundation will help families plan a bright future for their child.
Californians, regardless of their background, deserve the opportunity to achieve a successful and fulfilling career. As Governor, Gavin will focus on expanding access to higher education, as well as refocusing career technical education and workforce development programs. He will encourage businesses to become creators, not just consumers of talent by partnering with our community colleges and establishing 500,000 earn-and-learn apprenticeships by 2029, creating a new vocational education pipeline of high-skill workers.
As Governor, Gavin will expand our statewide Earned Income Tax Credit for very low-income earners — a program that rewards work and allows families to keep more of their hard-earned money.
California can, and must, dramatically increase CalWORKS grants, a life-changing program that provides financial and other assistance to families in need. Most very poor children live in homes with parents on welfare, but the grants those families receive have lost much of their purchasing power over the last 20 years. They’re not enough to pay for a decent apartment, let alone the other necessities like food and clothing, a kid needs to thrive. It’s also time to explore allowing welfare recipients to keep a greater portion of their grant aid.
Gavin understands that housing stability is key to helping families advance in their careers and children succeed in their education. To ensure Californians have access to affordable homes, Gavin will lead the effort to build 3.5 million new homes by 2025, and will strengthen both housing assistance programs and tenant protections. As Governor, he will establish a Secretary of Homelessness, helping ensure Californians facing homelessness receive the resources they need, including permanent supportive housing, as well as rapid re-housing for families. No child should be without a roof over their head.
Despite the ongoing debates in Washington, Gavin understands that healthcare is not a privilege – it’s a human right. As Governor, he will ensure California residents have universal access to healthcare, regardless of their ability to pay, pre-existing conditions, or immigration status. Gavin understands that by keeping Californians healthy, and free of debt from medical expenses, we allow families to not only succeed, but to thrive both personally and professionally.
Our state can’t fight this battle alone. Congress has dropped the ball and failed to follow through on their commitment to needy kids. The federal entitlement programs we rely on to help fund these priorities have not kept up with the cost of living — not even close. Federal block grant dollars haven’t been increased in 20 years. Washington needs to step up to the plate and invest far more in critical child care and employment training opportunities, whether that’s through TANF or another program. Even on the state level, we must invest more in helping kids who are growing up in poverty.
Many Californians transition between stages of life, be it from hospitals, the criminal justice system, or the child welfare system, without the support they need. Gavin understands we must provide these individuals with the tools to build stable lives. In fostering stability, we help these Californians reduce future interactions with the criminal justice system, reduce rates of recidivism, and end the cycle of homelessness. Through common sense steps like expanding access to the social safety net, providing institutions with the resources to teach financial literacy and credit counseling, training youth in independent living skills, and helping youth and families identify affordable housing, we will improve their outcomes and strengthen our state. Building An Upward Economy for All California is a place of unparalleled economic opportunity, where high tech comes to take flight, where our creative workforce entertains and connects the world, and where our agricultural products feed America. Over the past six years, businesses and employers have created 2.5 million jobs, helping us reach the lowest unemployment rate in more than a decade and cementing our status as the fifth-largest economy in the world. But for too many, California’s economic recovery is a spectator sport. Ours is at once the richest and poorest state. Eight million Californians are below the poverty line. Nearly two million children – one in five – live in poverty. We’re witnessing staggering levels of income and wealth inequality. I’m focused on building an upward economy that works for every Californian - one that is measured by growth and inclusion. Fighting income inequality and unequal opportunity is the defining economic challenge of our time, and California must face it head on. As Governor, Gavin will: Focus on Education Education is economic development. California will need 1.1 million additional bachelor’s degrees by 2030 to meet economic demand. If you take associate’s degrees and certificates into account, the number climbs even higher. Gavin has called for the California Promise, a new way of thinking about education as a lifelong pursuit, because if we’re going to close this massive skills gap, we’ve got to start at the beginning. Early Childhood: With increased investments in prenatal services and universal preschool, coupled with college savings accounts for entering kindergarteners, we can link the next generation to higher education and successful careers. STEM and Broadband: California is the tech capital of the world but claims 68,000 open, high-paying computing jobs it can’t fill. Only a quarter of California's high schools even offer computer science and, sadly, that disparity is punctuated by striking gender and racial gaps. As Governor, Gavin will expand broadband infrastructure to close the digital divide and provide “Computer Science for All.” Community Colleges: Community colleges are one of our most effective tools for upward mobility. Gavin will make them the backbone of our workforce development strategy beginning with two years of free community college tuition, creating pathways to quality jobs. They will also play a central role in three major jobs initiatives: First, we will develop transformation maps for every cluster, industry and region of our state to make sure we’re preparing folks for the jobs that actually exist. Working with the UC, CSU, and community college systems, we will overlay industry trends, job availability, and educational data, and then develop relevant curriculum to meet those workforce and skills needs. Second, we will establish 500,000 apprenticeships by 2029, creating a new vocational pipeline of high-skill workers. Apprenticeships provide the education and training necessary to prepare Californians for the jobs of today and tomorrow in an increasingly global world. We will expand both earn-and-learn apprenticeships and successful labor-management programs, both of which expand opportunity for Californians in growing sectors like advanced manufacturing, energy, health, information technology and hospitality. We will never win the race to the bottom on tax incentives, but we can win the race on talent incentives by building on our world class human capital. Third, we will provide individual skills accounts for Californians looking for work so they can always refresh their skills, no matter what stage of life. In today’s rapidly changing economy, our workforce must be able to adapt to new needs and advancements. These accounts, established with the backing of business, labor and government, will allow Californians to tap into the vast resources of our community college system to help get folks back on their feet. Develop Regional Workforce and Economic Development Plans California must harness its geographic economic diversity. The Inland Empire and San Joaquin Valley have unique strengths that differ from Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Regional strengths need targeted support.
Through low-interest public financing, we can inject more capital into building infrastructure, repairing our roads, bridges, and airports, providing fair student loans, and helping to build the 3.5 million new homes needed by 2025 to make housing more affordable.
California’s small businesses provide half of all jobs in the state. Gavin is committed to fostering entrepreneurship, cutting red tape and expanding access to capital, particularly for minority and women-owned enterprises.
We cannot tax or cut our way to prosperity - we can only get there by building an economy that reduces inequality and grows jobs. As Governor, Gavin will protect our Rainy Day Fund, aggressively tackle the state’s stubborn wall of debt, and, in the aftermath of President Trump’s disastrous tax bill, begin a long-overdue conversation about a twenty-first century system of taxation. We must explore options that reduce revenue volatility to create a stable economy that funds progressive priorities.
Gavin will be a fierce advocate for workers, especially low-income folks, women, and communities of color. As Governor, he will utilize our new state bank and community development financial institutions to provide small business loans and establish innovative micro-lending programs to assist the growth of minority and women-owned firms. The state also confronts a massive pay gap between men and women, and the disparities are even worse for women of color. Gavin is committed to closing this gap.
4.5 million Californians live in economically distressed zip codes. A new federal program that encourages investors to put their capital gains to work in distressed communities provides the chance to give places passed over by the state's recent growth a much-needed leg up. We should align our own economic development initiatives behind the Opportunity Zones program to ensure that the public and private sectors invest together to forge a more prosperous future for all Californians.
California is home to more than 318,000 clean economy jobs, more than any other state. As Governor, Gavin will grow jobs by expanding R&D partnerships, strengthening policies and programs that expand the use of clean energy technologies, safeguarding against federal actions that seek to erode California’s environmental leadership, and identifying clean energy pathways that will benefit all communities. California's shift to renewable energy must be leveraged to build economic opportunity.
California’s vibrant manufacturing sector employs more than 1.2 million Californians and generates over $270 billion a year. Gavin will support California manufacturing by boosting exports and gearing workforce training toward twenty-first century demands.
In 2016, California exported $163.6 billion to 228 foreign markets, making it the second largest state exporter in the country. Despite this success, California is not nearly as active and purposeful as other states or nations in capitalizing on those strengths. As Governor, Gavin will create jobs by developing export channels with global markets and forging partnerships with non-government entities to create state international trade and investment offices. This strategy will benefit small businesses —which comprise 96 percent of the approximately 56,000 exporting firms in California—as well as firms across all of California’s major sectors, from agriculture to advanced technology.
California, and Silicon Valley, wrote the book on innovation. Now other states and nations are resolved to write the sequel, and they are investing heavily to do so. To remain the world’s powerhouse of innovation, California must ramp up its efforts on multiple fronts: doubling down on R&D, strengthening manufacturing prowess, unleashing more entrepreneurial energy, catalyzing business startups and expansion and, most importantly, supporting innovation by smoothing the path between a brilliant idea and a global brand. As Governor, Gavin will nurture regional and cluster-based collaborations partnering industry, our academic institutions, and communities to innovate new ideas and spur economic growth throughout the state.
California can’t double exports or foster a renaissance in manufacturing without world-class ports, airports, roadways, bridges and other freight infrastructure. We can’t build an innovation culture with global reach or reap the benefits of the information age without the capacity to send and receive vast amounts of information. As Governor, Gavin will align infrastructure decisions with regional strategies, pursue new and creative approaches to financing including Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts and the new state bank, and lead the movement to make universal access to high-speed broadband a reality for every Californian.
We are living in a hinge moment — with globalization and technology detonating at the same time, displacing workers and entire industries. It’s not an easy subject to talk about but we need to have a serious conversation about the future of work because if we don’t prepare ourselves, our rising levels of wealth inequality will only widen. There is no silver bullet that will wholly solve the displacement from future technology, but implementing the right solutions can help ease the transition and protect the workers most vulnerable and susceptible to automation. Wage Insurance: The federal government offers reemployment insurance to folks who lose their jobs to foreign workers, but no one is offering this critical protection for those who fall victim to automation. If a hard working Californian who did everything right loses a job, takes the time to train for a new one, and then ultimately lands a position that doesn’t pay as much, we ought to offer wage insurance to help pay the bills. Portable Benefits: Our benefits system of retirement, vacation and sick leave are designed for a different era. Meanwhile, there are anywhere between one and two million gig workers in California, folks who depend on independent contracting to make ends meet. We like the innovation of the gig economy but that doesn’t mean we should reduce our worker standards. As Governor, Gavin is committed to protecting the workers of the contingent economy by establishing a system of portable benefits, so that earned benefits are not tied to one company or industry. California can be a leader in pioneering the benefits of the future. Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit: Finally, we need to expand our statewide Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income earners and for those out of work – a program that rewards work and allows families to keep more of their hard-earned money. An expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit will support hard-working Californians and alleviate poverty. Renewing California's Commitment to Education School did not always come easy to Gavin, but thanks to the perseverance of his mother, and the dedication of his teachers, they finally named the problem – dyslexia. His dyslexia led him on a unique educational journey, one of self-pace and self-discovery. It’s what he needed to help him learn and it’s shaped his thinking today: Gavin believes that every student in California deserves the same opportunity to achieve success. As Governor, Gavin is calling for the California Promise, a new way of thinking about education as a lifelong pursuit. He believes that our role begins when babies are still in the womb and it doesn’t end until we’ve done all we can to prepare them for a quality job and successful career. As Governor, Gavin will: Focus on the First Three Years of a Child’s Life Studies have shown that 85 percent of brain development occurs within the first three years of a child’s life — these key early years are the foundation of every child’s future potential. To create a strong foundation of educational success, Gavin believes we must expand proven programs that support the health and wellbeing of our state’s babies and their families, including prenatal and developmental screenings, family nurse visits and affordable, high quality childcare. Gavin believes in the promise of universal preschool, equipping all of California’s children with the tools to succeed when they start kindergarten. Our early childhood strategy must also include expanded family leave because a parent should never have to choose between keeping a job and taking care of their newborn child. Investment in the first three years pays off: Students who participate in early education programs have been shown to have fewer interactions with the criminal justice system, achieve greater educational outcomes, and go on to have successful careers.
In addition to giving California’s students a strong start through early education, Gavin believes all students should progress through their academic careers knowing that college is within reach. As Governor, Gavin will launch college savings accounts for every incoming kindergartener across the state, linking the next generation to the promise of higher education. This foundation will help families, regardless of their zip code, plan a bright future for their child.
Gavin believes in the promise of community schools to anchor our neighborhoods with the comprehensive opportunities kids need to stay in school and get ready for the world of work: wellness centers, to address children’s physical and mental adolescent health needs, arts education, technology classes and computer science for every child, after school programs, after school and summer learning programs, and true public-public partnerships. California has long been a leader in supporting after school programs, and now serves over half a million children in low income communities each day. Gavin understands the importance of after school programs in closing the opportunity gap, and believes in extending this support throughout the year, by investing in summer programming. Summer programs are critical to keeping California’s students on track to high school graduation by combating summer learning loss and helping reinforce what students have learned throughout the year.
California is the tech capital of the world, but we've failed to align our education system to meet this economic opportunity. The state is home to over 68,000 open computing jobs with an average salary over $100,000 that we can’t fill with California public school graduates. Meanwhile, only a quarter of California's high schools offer computer science. And sadly, that disparity is punctuated by striking gender and racial gaps. Of the 10,244 California high school students who took the AP Computer Science exam in 2016, only 27% were female. Only 1,487 were Hispanic or Latino and only 146 were black. That is unacceptable. We have a lot of work to do to make sure every student in every school has equal access to computer science and the opportunities it opens up. Computer Science for All is an economic and equity imperative. Arkansas is well on its way to requiring computer science courses in all high schools. California should be leading the way with them.
Unlike U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, we will attract teachers, not attack teachers. Our state faces an acute teaching shortage, particularly in special education, bilingual education and STEM. A full 75% of California’s school districts reported experiencing a teacher shortage last year. While this is a widespread problem, Gavin understands that California communities with greater proportions of students of color and students living in poverty have been especially impacted by both shortages and high rates of teacher turnover. For California students to succeed, Gavin understands we must keep quality teachers in the classroom. As Governor, Gavin will develop and encourage state and local incentives to attract highly qualified candidates into the profession, and will improve educational outcomes and teacher retention by investing in teachers as the professionals they are.
In California, and across the United States, education opens the door to opportunity, which is why Gavin is laser-focused on restoring the access, affordability, and quality of our state’s public higher education system. He is passionate about community colleges, and believes they are the backbone of our economy and one of our most effective tools for upward mobility. That’s why his California Promise initiative will guarantee two free years of community college tuition, create pathways to quality jobs and reduce debt for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree. The sad reality is that many students leave college with debt levels that would finance a home mortgage. Many don’t finish college at all because of the cost our education system puts in front of them. The California Promise will help more students to become college-ready and bolster efforts to support our students, because enrolling is only half the challenge: graduating is the key. The community colleges, Cal State, and University of California segments operate in their own silos, which is why Gavin will create a new higher education coordinating council to set bold statewide goals and hold institutions accountable to them. We need to expand access, improve affordability, bolster transfers and completion rates — and link financial incentives to clear student outcomes. Technology is radically changing the world and the future of work. The state has been flat-footed in its response to uneven income growth and Sacramento has under-invested in higher education. We can and will change that.
While college may not be the right choice for every Californian, Gavin believes all Californians deserve the opportunity to secure a good paying job. As Governor, he will encourage businesses to become creators, not just consumers of talent by partnering with our community colleges and establishing 500,000 earn-and-learn apprenticeships by 2029, creating a new vocational education pipeline of high-skill workers. In an increasingly global world, apprenticeships provide the education and training necessary to prepare Californians for the jobs of today and tomorrow. These unique partnerships between business, labor, government and the educational community expand opportunity for Californians in growing sectors like advanced manufacturing, energy, health, information technology and hospitality.
As Governor, Gavin will reassert California as an education data leader. The public deserves to know whether all students, regardless of background, have access to good schools and equitable funding. Gavin knows this transparency will enable educators to better tailor supports and remove barriers to opportunity. Gavin will connect our early childhood, K-12 and higher education data systems so that we can best serve California’s students as they progress through their education. Leading the nation in environmental protection From its dramatic coastline to dense forests, majestic mountains and diverse desert ecosystems, California is unparalleled in its natural beauty. Our state must remain at the forefront of environmental leadership as we tackle some of the planet’s greatest challenges. The impacts of climate change are already being felt today. Our state has faced a devastating drought, damaging wildfires, and deadly mudslides. And to make matters worse, we now have to fight the backward policies coming out of Washington D.C. Since taking office, President Trump has overturned or announced his intention to overturn dozens of environmental rules. His picks to lead the Energy Department, Interior Department, and Environmental Protection Agency are openly antagonistic toward the mission of the agencies they run. Collectively, they are moving at breakneck pace to reverse the great progress achieved by the environmental movement. It is outrageous that the Trump Administration has proposed removing protections for public lands, opening up the Arctic and our coastlines to oil drilling and pulling out of the Paris Climate agreement. Despite these challenges, California will continue to lead the nation and the world in clean energy, conservation, and the fight against climate change. Gavin knows that California does not have to wait for Washington to be a global leader on any issue — and certainly not when it comes to energy, the environment and the economy. As Governor, Gavin will: Combat Climate Change and Put California on a Path to 100% Renewable Energy On his first day in office, Gavin will issue a directive putting California on a path to 100% renewable energy. It’s achievable and it’s necessary. In fact, he believes that we can surpass our 100% goal by positioning California as a net exporter of energy to other states and nations. It’s a money maker for us and the natural next step in our global leadership – a classic example of California innovation. We are already making great strides toward that goal. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Brown, California’s utility companies are expected to meet the requirement that they receive 50% of their electricity from renewable sources ten years early. We will continue to diversify our energy supply, increasing our output of green alternatives like solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and ocean-based energy, all the while improving our energy efficiency through stronger green building standards, construction codes, and efficiency standards for electronics and appliances.
Meeting our ambitious climate goals will require an overhaul of the transportation sector, which accounts for 39% of California’s carbon emissions, representing the state’s single largest source of air pollution. As Governor, Gavin will design a visionary goods movement strategy that modernizes our ports, improves efficiency, electrifies our transit system, bolsters economic productivity, and cleans our air. He will also set a goal of zero diesel pollution by 2030. California has already set a goal of 5 million zero-emission vehicles by 2030, a far cry from the 315,000 currently on the road. Gavin believes that instead of driving jobs out of the state, we need to replace diesel with zero pollution clean technology like hydrogen fuel cells and electric vehicles.
When the Trump Administration threatened to undo our state’s National Monument designations, Gavin fought back because he understands that these protections connect our citizens to our nation’s past, provide a spiritual grounding in the present, and inspire bold visions for the future. He fought to preserve public access to public beaches, and has gone up against the Trump administration to protect sensitive habitats like the Mojave Trails National Monument and our coast. The state has also experienced a historic disinvestment in its parks. As Trump rolls back protections for public lands, Gavin is determined to make our public places more accessible for all Californians. As Governor, he will invest in our parks, and work with the California Conservation Corps, CalVolunteers and others to connect folks with their public spaces. He supports the parks and water bond that the Governor and Legislature put on the ballot, which places appropriate emphasis on urban parks that serve underserved communities.
The drought was a wake up call to the impacts of climate change and the immediate need to rethink the way we use water. As Governor, Gavin will scale effective technologies like drip irrigation to reduce water waste and remote sensing technology to understand how much water is needed to irrigate both fields and residential yards. He will lead the effort to replenish our groundwater basins and in this era of limited reliability, increase our use of recycled water. Simply put, Gavin believes we have to be smarter about how we store and utilize this resource to ensure that our economy, communities and natural places can all thrive.
Gavin believes that new oil and gas development in the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf threatens the environment, delays the nation’s movement toward renewable energy development, contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions, and adversely affects tourism and fisheries. Coastal water quality is deteriorating, particularly in Southern California. Unsurprisingly, President Trump rolled back the Clean Water Rule, which would have strengthened protections from waterways that lead to the Pacific. As Governor, Gavin will strengthen state enforcement to crack down against those that pollute our rivers, lakes and ocean, and in doing so, protect the interests of our coastal fishing industry and everyday Californians who flock to the beach for recreational purposes. He also opposes fracking and other unsafe oil operations and is committed to the highest standards of public transparency, public health, and public safety above all else. He believes that fracking poses potentially significant health and environmental risks that need to be studied, monitored, and tested for aggressively, and will fight efforts by the oil and gas industry to escape the reach of state and federal regulators.
Communities of color are consistently the strongest champions of environmental policy and yet often suffer a disproportionate burden from pollution. Huge sums of federal money flow through Sacramento but not enough of it makes its way to the communities that need help most. Moreover, Trump’s EPA budget eliminates environmental justice funding. As we decarbonize our economy, Gavin will consider it a personal failure unless we identify new ways to benefit all communities. Any shift to renewable energy must be leveraged to build economic opportunity. As Mayor, Gavin shut down the old, dirty Hunter’s Point Power Plant and when they built a new state-of-the-art recycling facility, he required that first priority for jobs went to local residents. Despite our state’s environmental leadership, too many communities in California claim the unfortunate distinction of having some of the worst air quality in the nation. As Governor, Gavin will safeguard the percentage of cap and trade dollars earmarked for communities that have borne the burden of environmental injustice. He will ensure that the polluter pays, by instructing CalEPA and relevant agencies to conduct a review of enforcement programs, and empowering folks on the ground to supplement those efforts. Upwards of a million people in California live in homes with contaminated drinking water, and they tend to be poor, and heavily Latino or African American. It’s an embarrassment that so many of our fellow Californians go home at night and can’t drink safely from the faucet or bathe their kids in clean water — and yet still pay their utility bills. As Governor, Gavin will direct the California State Water Resources Control Board to rectify this injustice and work with the Legislature to solve this moral crisis. Gavin will double down on the production of organic and sustainable food, and promote food security, particularly in low-income communities and, disproportionately, communities of color that lack access to healthy choices. It’s ironic and bizarre that the San Joaquin Valley grows the food for the nation but poor communities there do not have an adequate supply of their own. Counter the Threat of Wildfires The extreme fires that ripped across the state this year upended lives and cost California billions of dollars. As Governor, Gavin will take active steps to reduce the risk of fire, including the removal of dead trees, which can be used as a resource for our energy sector. We must also continue to protect our state’s watersheds, and make our forests more resilient. In preparing for this threat, we not only protect our valuable wildlife but strengthen our communities.
California is home to some of the brightest minds in the country – a product of our remarkable universities and robust economy. Gavin will launch CARPA-E, modeled after the federal agencies that brought us the Internet and other technological advances. We can attract this talent into public service to help us achieve our innovation agenda and ensure we remain on the forefront of innovation.
As Governor, Gavin will harness the ingenuity of Silicon Valley and Silicon Beach, and utilize California technology to create a 21st century grid capable of powering the world’s fifth largest economy. He believes we can meet the design challenge of building a grid that integrates renewable energy and electrifies transportation while maintaining reliability. Meeting California's Housing Needs Too many Californians are staring at our sky-high economy from the very bottom of the income ladder, while the costs of everyday life in California rise faster than wages. This is a question of who we are. Housing is a fundamental human need — let’s not forget the human face behind the dire statistics. It’s a single mother doing her best to put food on the table and tuck her kids in at night with a roof over their heads. It’s a student striving to maintain friendships and good grades while forcibly shuffled between schools with each move. Housing instability can cause genuine mental and physical adversity, and lead to insufferable decisions: no one should have to choose between paying rent or buying groceries. We’re experiencing a housing affordability crisis, driven by a simple economic argument. California is leading the national recovery but it’s producing far more jobs than homes. Providing adequate housing is fundamental to growing the state’s economy. The current housing shortage is costing California over $140 billion per year in lost economic opportunity. Creating jobs without providing access to housing drives income inequality up and consumer spending down. The simple fact is the more money people need to spend on rent, the less they can spend supporting small businesses. Employers, meanwhile, are rightfully concerned that the high cost of housing will impede their ability to attract and retain the best workers. 'As Governor, Gavin will: Develop 3.5 Million Housing Units As Governor, Gavin will lead the effort to develop the 3.5 million new housing units we need by 2025 because our solutions must be as bold as the problem is big. Let’s consider the facts: the median home value in California is $469,300, and a lot higher in coastal areas. Homeownership rates have dropped dramatically. Nearly half of renters spend a huge proportion of their income — more than 35% — on housing costs and still often live in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Yet since 2005 California has only produced 308 housing units for every 1000 new residents. Add in the fact that California will be home to 50 million people by 2050, and it’s obvious we’re not on pace to meet that demand. Gavin understands that our state will only thrive if every Californian is afforded the opportunity to build a community with a stable roof over their heads.
Housing cannot just be available – it must also be within reach. To spur the construction of affordable housing, Gavin believes we must not only increase our investments in its creation, but also identify sources of new funding. That’s why we must support the $4 billion statewide housing bond on the November 2018 ballot. Moreover, California currently provides about $85 million in tax credits to invest in affordable housing. We know this program works, and is often used to leverage federal and other funds by a ratio of two or three to one. By thoughtfully upping our investments, we can exponentially increase our affordable housing output. A state share of $500 million would generate an additional investment of $1.5 to $2 billion in new affordable housing production. As Governor, Gavin will keep a watchful eye to ensure transparency in the spending of these vital taxpayer dollars.
Undoubtedly, some redevelopment agencies were plagued with corruption, and eliminating them helped bring the state budget back into balance, but it’s incumbent upon the next Governor to get creative about how we plug that hole. Cities across California are turning to Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts, allowing them to partner with counties and public agencies to funnel resources to critical infrastructure projects like housing. As Governor, Gavin will eliminate barriers to entry in order to scale these districts statewide.
California is home to innovators – individuals and companies who are spurring our state’s growth, and attracting more residents to the Golden State. However, the rules and regulations governing the affordable housing finance system are set up to fail many of these workers, the “Missing Middle” in California, those whose incomes fall between qualifying for market rate and subsidized housing. Gavin believes California is made stronger by a strong middle-class. That’s why he supports regulatory streamlining to make it easier for the private sector to produce these housing units, and will work with our corporate partners to create workforce housing serving middle-class families and moderate income households.
First, cities have a perverse incentive not to build housing because retail generates more lucrative sales tax revenue. The bigger the box, the better, because cities can use the sales tax for core public services. We must revamp our tax system to financially reward cities that produce housing and punish those that fail. Tough accountability backed by financial incentives will unlock the potential for cities to step up their game. Second, California can provide access to Tax Increment Financing (TIF), an important development resource, based on housing production goals. Third, we can reform the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). RHNA helps set housing targets across the state, but the goals are too low and don’t match our statewide housing need. We can recalibrate the goals to mandate greater production. Fourth, many cities rightfully tell us they have a transportation problem but in reality, it’s also a housing problem. We can link transportation funding to housing goals to encourage smart growth.
While streamlining is critical to meeting this challenge, we must also implement stronger tenant protections and expand rent control to prevent people from being displaced. We can do so in a way that still provides incentives for increased housing production. As Mayor, Gavin supported strong tenant protections, rent control and rent stabilization efforts, and ushered the development of thousands of new affordable units.
As Governor, Gavin will create a Regional Housing Appeal Board – providing housing providers and developers recourse against localities who are not following state law. He will also revive the Jobs-Housing Balance Incentive Grants Program, which provides local governments grants to support housing creation. The 2018 housing bond will play an important role in funding this program.
Beyond increasing housing production through incentives and penalties, Gavin understands there are other steps that can be taken to improve access to secure affordable housing. We can implement stronger tenant protections, streamline and accelerate land use approvals to allow faster development, and dis-incentivize lawsuits that discourage development by strengthening the standard of review for housing projects with an affordable housing component that mitigate environmental impacts.
Building upon his experiences in San Francisco, Gavin is committed to supporting Californians experiencing or facing homelessness. As Governor, he will appoint a State Homelessness Secretary to oversee an Interagency Council on Homelessness – because we need statewide leadership laser-focused on this problem. We will fund in-reach services at state prisons to prevent inmates from being released into homelessness, bolster the Housing Disability Assistance Program to provide SSI Advocacy services for chronically homeless adults, and expand social services, healthcare (including mental health), bridge housing, and permanent supportive housing. We’ve been “managing” this problem for too long; it’s time to solve it. [31] |
” |
| —Gavin Newsom for Governor[32] | ||
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage and endorsements scopes.
Noteworthy events
- See also: Documenting California's path to recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021
Newsom declared a state of emergency on March 4, 2020, and issued a stay-at-home order on March 19, 2020. The penalty for violating the stay-at-home order was a misdemeanor charge with up to $1,000 in fines or six months imprisonment, according to the order.[33][34] California was the first state to issue a stay-at-home order. The COVID-19 state of emergency order was lifted on February 28, 2023.[35]
In November 2022, Newsom attended a birthday party for lobbyist Jason Kinney at The French Laundry restaurant in violation of the COVID-19 rules and protocols he had issued for the state.[36] Asm. James Gallagher (R), who sued Newsom over the mailing of ballots to all eligible voters ahead of the 2020 election, said, "Most of our cases are coming from private gatherings – weddings, family gatherings, celebrations. It’s hard to force a free society to stop people from gathering. As we’ve seen from the governor, even he himself has a hard time avoiding private gatherings."[37] In a statement following the event, Newsom said, "While the First Partner and I followed the restaurant’s health protocols and took safety precautions, I should have modeled better behavior and not joined the dinner."[38]
Passage of Assembly Bill 5 (2019)
In 2019, Newsom signed Assembly Bill 5 limiting the definition of independent contractor in California to those outside of a company’s control and not within the company’s core business. All workers not passing this test were required to be treated as employees. The bill required over 100 exemptions and resulted in the passage of Proposition 22 in 2020 to exempt ride-share drivers from the law.[39]
Order allowing same-sex marriage as mayor of San Francisco (2004)
Shortly after becoming mayor of San Francisco, Newsom ordered the San Francisco clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in defiance of the state’s ban on same-sex marriages.[40] Around 4,000 marriage licenses were issued before a court ordered those marriages annulled.[41] In 2008, Proposition 8 inserted a ban on same-sex marriage into the state constitution before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that such bans were unconstitutional.[42]
Campaign donors
The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may not represent all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer, and campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
| Gavin Newsom campaign contribution history | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Result | Contributions | |
| 2018 | Governor of California |  |
$50,240,531 | |
| 2014 | Lieutenant Governor of California | |
$4,200,326 | |
| 2010 | Lieutenant Governor of California | |
$4,389,778 | |
| Grand total raised | $58,830,635 | |||
| Source: Follow the Money | ||||
Ballot measure activity
The following table details Newsom's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
| Ballot measure support and opposition for Gavin Newsom | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot measure | Year | Position | Status |
| California Proposition 1, Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (2022) | 2022 | Supported[43] | Approved |
| California Proposition 27, Legalize Sports Betting and Revenue for Homelessness Prevention Fund Initiative (2022) | 2022 | Opposed[44] |  Defeated
|
| California Proposition 30, Tax on Income Above $2 Million for Zero-Emissions Vehicles and Wildfire Prevention Initiative (2022) | 2022 | Opposed[45] | Defeated
|
| California Proposition 31, Flavored Tobacco Products Ban Referendum (2022) | 2022 | Supported[46] | Approved |
See also
2022 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Governor of California |
Officeholder Governor of California |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 California State Library, "Governor's Gallery, Gavin Newsom," accessed May 18, 2021
- ↑ The New York Times, "William Newsom, 84, California Judge and Governor-Elect’s Father, Dies," December 13, 2018
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 SFGate, "Gonalez, Newsom: what makes them run/From modest beginnings, Newsom finds connections for business, political success," December 7, 2003
- ↑ Sports Business Journal, "Newsom draws on his experience to advocate for student-athlete rights," December 6, 2019
- ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, "Newsom to Santa Clara graduates: ‘We can do more and do better,'" June 13, 2020
- ↑ Cal Matters, "Doing your taxes? Here are Gov. Gavin Newsom’s most recent returns," March 7, 2020
- ↑ ABC 7 News, "Companies part of group founded by CA governor collectively get nearly $3 million in PPP loans, data shows," December 9, 2020
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom to place California wineries, hotels in blind trust," December 20, 2018
- ↑ Fox News, "Gavin Newsom," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ Washington Post, "California governor recall election: Voters reject recall of Gavin Newsom," October 15, 2021
- ↑ The Washington Times, "Catholics hit Newsom for replacing toppled saint’s statue," September 28, 2021
- ↑ The New York Times, "California Governor Election Results," December 20, 2022
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Track the money flowing into the race for Governor," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ NPR, "Democrat Gavin Newsom sails to reelection as California governor," November 8, 2022
- ↑ Cal Matters, "Recalling a California governor, explained," October 1, 2021
- ↑ NBC News, "Recall effort against California governor an attempt to 'destabilize the political system,' analysts say," December 20, 2020
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Gavin Newsom and Democrats are dragging Donald Trump into the recall fight," March 16, 2021
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Complete List of Recall Attempts," accessed November 16, 2020
- ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, "Recall Gavin Newsom? The time is right, GOP activists say," November 26, 2019
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Track the millions flowing into California’s race for governor," November 5, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Gavin Newsom drops out of California governor's race," October 31, 2009
- ↑ The New York Times, "Election 2010," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ The New York Times, "California Election Results," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ San Francisco Department of Elections, "November 4, 2003 Consolidated Municipal Election," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ San Francisco Department of Elections, "December 9, 2003 Municipal Run-Off Election," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ The New York Times, "Left Faces Left in San Francisco Runoff Vote for Mayor," December 7, 2003
- ↑ SF Gate, "Gavin Newsom sworn in as mayor," January 8, 2004
- ↑ ABC News, "S.F. mayor rides wave of popularity into election," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ San Francisco Department of Elections, "November 6, 2007 Municipal Election," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Primary Election - Statement of Vote, June 8, 2010," accessed May 18, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Gavin Newsom for Governor, "California Values" archived August 31, 2018
- ↑ Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, "Governor Newsom Declares State of Emergency to Help State Prepare for Broader Spread of COVID-19," March 4, 2020
- ↑ Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, "Governor Gavin Newsom Issues Stay at Home Order," March 19, 2020
- ↑ Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, "Governor Newsom Marks End of California’s COVID-19 State of Emergency," February 28, 2023
- ↑ Fox 11 Los Angeles, "FOX 11 obtains exclusive photos of Gov. Newsom at French restaurant allegedly not following COVID-19 protocols," November 17, 2020
- ↑ FOX News, "California Republicans rip Newsom’s ‘hypocrisy’ for highbrow dining excursion," November 18, 2020
- ↑ Politico, "Newsom faces backlash after attending French Laundry dinner party," November 13, 2020
- ↑ CNN Business, "Prop 22 passes in California, exempting Uber and Lyft from classifying drivers as employees," November 4, 2020
- ↑ SF Gate, "Newsom was central to same-sex marriage saga," November 6, 2008
- ↑ ABC 7 News, "14th anniversary of SF's historic move to marry same-sex couples," February 13, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "When Gavin Newsom issued marriage licenses in San Francisco, his party was furious. Now, it’s a campaign ad," May 15, 2018
- ↑ Protect Abortion CA, "Our Coalition," accessed December 6, 2022
- ↑ Politico, "California Playbook," October 26, 2022
- ↑ CalMatters, "Newsom calls for more aggressive climate action," accessed October 26, 2022
- ↑ LA Times, "Tobacco industry submits signatures on California referendum to block ban on flavored products sales," November 24, 2020
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