After serving two terms as governor of California, Gavin Newsom – who is widely considered the left’s frontrunner for the 2028 presidential race – will step down in January 2027. Even as his political star rises toward the White House, those looking to replace Newsom in the governor’s mansion appear to be keeping their distance from his track record, which begs the question: Is Newsom a political liability for California Democrats?
Grading Gavin
Billionaire Tom Steyer, a gubernatorial candidate in The Golden State, was full of excuses when asked what grade he would give Newsom’s performance as governor. “I don’t know. I think that people have come to really appreciate how Gavin stood up for California,” Steyer said. “I haven’t followed it closely enough to give him a grade.”
Many found it odd that a candidate hoping to replace Newsom in Sacramento had little to say about the current governor’s record. “So let me get this straight … he is running for governor … spending millions of his own money to get elected … and he wants us to believe he isn’t following the current governor enough to give him a grade?” former Fox News journalist Adam Housley wrote on X. “Hell… that disqualifies him immediately.”
Of course, Steyer is likely well aware of both Newsom’s performance in California and his rising political profile, and his decision not to offer a grade appears more strategic than ignorant. If he gives Newsom an A, he risks linking himself to Newsom’s track record, which is rife with controversy. If he gives Newsom anything less than an A, he risks making an enemy of a powerful presidential hopeful.
Steyer isn’t the only candidate distancing himself from Newsom’s record in California. When asked by CBS News Sacramento what she considers a “misstep” in Newson’s performance, Katie Porter avoided citing any policy decisions, instead focusing on his scandalous attendance at a COVID-era dinner at The French Laundry.
Dead Weight
California voter frustration with Newsom reached its highest point since 2024 last month, according to an Emerson College poll, which showed 45% disapprove of the governor’s job performance. The survey found 37% considered the economy the state’s top issue. Under Newsom’s leadership, the cost of living has surged – so much so that 53% of voters say they’ve considered leaving the Golden State for a more affordable location.
One look at Newsom’s record and it’s easy to see why California’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates are avoiding the topic at all costs. On top of the soaring cost of living, Newsom has made little progress on the state’s homelessness crisis and has overseen the highest gas prices in the nation. He also failed to keep his campaign promise to build 3.5 million homes by 2025.
To make matters worse, Newsom was found to have “misrepresented his accomplishments and even disinvested in wildfire prevention,” according to an investigation by CapRadio and NPR’s California Newsroom. Newsom reportedly overstated by 690% “the number of acres treated with fuel breaks and prescribed burns in the very forestry projects he said needed to be prioritized to protect the state’s most vulnerable communities.” And then there’s California’s high-speed rail project, which, on Newson’s watch, is expected run out of money before even finishing its first segment.
Democrats may be able to sidestep Newsom’s record in a blue state race, but it will be much harder to avoid at the national level. The White House is big, but it might not be big enough for Newsom’s baggage – and some on the left apparently already know it.
