Newsom and his team have successfully tapped into the need that many rank-and-file Democrats have for adopting a confrontational approach to Trump and his policies. But few people outside of California know much about the governor’s actual record — and many Democratic voters will be turned off to learn that his fervent opposition to a billionaire tax is part of an overall political approach that has trended more and more corporate-friendly.
A year ago, Newsom sent about 100 leaders of California-based companies a prepaid cell phone “programmed with Newsom’s digits and accompanied by notes from the governor himself,” POLITICO reported. One note to the CEO of a big tech corporation said, “If you ever need anything, I’m a phone call away.” While pandering to business elites, Newsom has slashed budgets to assist the poor and near-poor with healthcare, housing and food – in a state where seven million live under the official poverty line and child poverty rates are the highest in the nation.
…
“Governor Newsom’s reluctance to propose meaningful revenue solutions to help blunt the harm of federal cuts undermines his posture to counter the Trump administration.” The statement said that the proposed budget “will leave many Californians without food assistance and healthcare coverage.”
So far, key facts about Newsom’s policy priorities have scarcely gone beyond California’s borders. “National media have focused on Newsom as a personality and potential White House candidate and have almost completely ignored what he has and has not done as a governor,” said columnist Dan Walters, whose five decades covering California politics included 33 years at the Sacramento Bee. “It’s a perpetual failing of national political media to be more interested in image and gamesmanship rather than actual actions, the sizzle rather than the steak, and Newsom is very adept at exploiting that tendency.”
Also see https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/10/gavin-newsom-presidential-candidate-democrats
Like Trump, Newsom breaks promises, serves billionaire interests and mistakes social media theatrics for leadership. Is that really what American voters will want in 2028? After Richard Nixon, Americans chose Jimmy Carter. After George W Bush, they chose Barack Obama. After Trump, they’ll likely want change – authentic, strong, moral leadership, a leader with competence and vision.
Here come the protest voters to ensure Trump’s legacy continues.
Every time these “less than perfect” candidates get elected they end up screwing us over and giving the Republicans fertile ground to expand their power networks. We’ve given such fake saviors countless opportunities and look where it’s landed us.
It’s going to take more than a good show of being anti-Nazi.
They never reverse any of the facist policies either
Oh look! Here’s one now to tell us that… [checks notes] apparently, the democrats elected Trump.
I am trying to get us to win by having a candidate that actually has a chance, which Gavin doesn’t because the more everybody learns about him nationally the less people like him, what the hell are you trying to do?
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Your just here to slam dems. Happens every election cycle. Flick off and eat trash you Russian bot.
I make a good chunk of the posts on the Ukraine sopuli community to pro-Ukrainian news coverage, you could not have picked a worse lazy accusation to throw clumsily in my direction. Check my post history, and next time think before you type :)
I’m trying to ensure that people have learned from past mistakes that perfect isn’t obtainable right now and in these desperate times we need to just fucking vote AGAINST fascism regardless of who it is that is standing in it’s way.
But if you really feel the need to rally people into falsely assuming that a perfect candidate is worth holding out for- I guess it’s that’s all the proof needed that we collectively haven’t learned shit, and probably just deserve the shit we’re forced to endure.
If Newsome is your choice then apparently you don’t even think good is obtainable right now.
At this point- I don’t give a shit because ANYTHING is better than a fascist Nazi.
That you don’t agree says a lot more about you I’d say.
I don’t disagree that Gavin is better than actual fascists, but we have two years to actually come up with someone better and protecting him now when it’s obvious how garbage he is isn’t helping us.
So again, the nuance of the topic is lost-
IF- Gavin is the one to remain standing, I am suggesting we vote for him.
Big IF.
This isn’t to suggest that I support everything he is about- but I’d vote for anyone over suffering a single extra day with an addled gelatinous child molesterer.
And to be honest- if who ever is out there that is better, and they don’t stand and be counted soon, I will have zero faith that they’re the right person.
So this eliminates any 11th hour arrivals of spoiler 3rd party idiots that disappear and reappear like cicadas every four years. Say what you will about Gavin, but he’s getting his hands dirty at least. And that means more than the silence from [candidate].
Trump is the result of “lesser of two evils” voting. Maybe try doing something different this time?
Im not holding out for a perfect candidate, I am holding out for a candidate that isn’t worse than useless as far as the objective of winning is concerned.
Are you not reading my words? How many times do I have to say this?
Gavin will lose, that is that reality, I am trying to be proactive and raise awareness so we can put our energy into candidates and movements that actually have a fighting chance.
Okay… word it in whatever way paints the prettiest picture of hopeful rhetoric as you’d like, however, at the end of the day, you’re basically saying you refuse to vote against a fascist unless the person running against them meets some weird purity test that defies gradation.
It’s pretty fucking simple bud…. If we have no other options you FUCKING VOTE AGAINST the FASCIST. There is no debating this.
I honestly cannot believe we’re still having to teach this shit to people.
Never said I refused to vote, never said the candidate had to be perfect.
What you seem to refuse to understand is that we have far better options than Gavin Newsom both from a policy standpoint and an electability standpoint.
Get out of here with your accusations I have some weird purity test, I am applying basic political competency standards here and Gavin desperately fails them.
LMAO…
Two years prior to an election, you’re already salivating over anyone that isn’t him. You done even know who that is- but NOT Gavin is clearly your angle here
This is as bad faith as it gets and whatever you’re up to, I have doubts that it has anything to do with what you’re on about.
Right, now is too early and later will be too late I know how this one goes…
Okay buddy. You keep saying that. I’m sure someone will be dumb enough to believe it.
This shit. This shit right here is how trump won.
Go to hell Russian bot. I swear this happens every election now
Yes me the poster who vomits up article links to pro-Ukrainian news almost every day is a Russian bot.
Lol facepalm