California’s slick-haired governor Gavin Newsom has been on quite the journey lately. For a man who once championed some of the most far-left policies in America, he’s suddenly trying to sound like a moderate Democrat. Have you noticed? Gone are the enthusiastic defenses of sanctuary cities and transgender sports policies, replaced by tough talk on border security and crime. It’s almost like someone’s eyeing a 2028 presidential run!
But there’s just one little problem with Newsom’s political makeover – the people who know him best aren’t buying it. While he jets around the country for his podcast appearances and Fox News debates, the actual citizens of California have noticed their governor seems more interested in his political future than fixing their crumbling state. Remember when politicians actually focused on governing instead of their next career move?
A bombshell new poll from the University of California Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies confirms what many have long suspected: Californians believe their governor has mentally checked out. According to the survey of over 6,200 registered voters, a whopping 54% believe Newsom is focused primarily on his presidential ambitions rather than doing his actual job. Only 26% think he’s focused on governing California – a devastating 2-to-1 margin.
From ‘Breitbart’:
A new poll shows that 54% of registered voters believe that Governor Gavin Newsom is focused on his own presidential ambitions, versus 26% who believe he is focused on his job and the state — a two-to-one margin.
What’s particularly striking is that even fellow Democrats aren’t convinced by Newsom’s performance. The poll found that 40% of Democrats believe their governor is more focused on himself than on addressing California’s many problems. When your own political base is questioning your commitment, that’s a serious red flag. Isn’t that the kind of warning sign that should make any politician reassess their priorities?
Meanwhile, Newsom’s overall approval and disapproval ratings are both locked at 46% – hardly the kind of enthusiastic support a politician would want before launching a presidential campaign.
California’s Emperor Has No Clothes
Perhaps most damaging for Newsom’s national ambitions is how his approval ratings stack up against other Democratic governors reportedly eyeing the White House. While Newsom struggles with a tepid 46% approval rating, Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer enjoys 54% approval, Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro sits at an impressive 59%, and Kentucky’s Andy Beshear boasts a remarkable 68% approval in his deep-red state.
These numbers paint a clear picture: Newsom is significantly less popular in his own state than other potential Democratic contenders are in theirs. And there’s good reason for that disparity.
Under Newsom’s leadership, California has become the poster child for progressive policy failures. The state faces a massive homelessness crisis that has grown by over 15% during his tenure, with more than 171,000 homeless individuals according to recent counts. California’s budget deficit has ballooned to a staggering $38 billion despite having the highest income tax rate in the nation at 13.3% – taxes so high they drive businesses and residents to flee to states like Texas and Florida.
Presidential Material or Political Opportunist?
Newsom’s reaction to criticism reveals even more about his character and priorities. When President Trump recently pointed out that Newsom would never be president due to his failures on high-speed rail and wildfire management, Newsom didn’t respond by acknowledging problems or offering solutions.
Instead, his office issued a defensive press statement attempting to deflect by comparing California’s troubled high-speed rail project to that of Texas. “California’s system is under construction; Texas’ has yet to break ground,” the statement proudly proclaimed – conveniently omitting that California’s project is years behind schedule, tens of billions of dollars over budget, and will not fulfill its original promise of connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco as advertised.
When Facts Meet Feelings
What’s particularly telling about Newsom’s response to Trump is what he didn’t say. He couldn’t deny that California’s once-ambitious high-speed rail project has become a national embarrassment. He couldn’t dispute that the state continues to be ravaged by preventable wildfires due to poor forest management. And he certainly couldn’t claim that California, with its rampant homelessness, astronomical cost of living, and crumbling infrastructure, represents a model the rest of America should follow.
Instead, like most politicians who prioritize ambition over results, Newsom chose to change the subject. We’ve seen this playbook before with politicians like former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who masked policy failures with grand speeches and media appearances until his house of cards eventually collapsed.
This is the fundamental problem with Newsom and so many other Democratic leaders. They measure success by how progressively they can position themselves on social issues, not by whether their policies actually improve people’s lives. When their grand plans inevitably fail, they blame others, change the subject, or simply move on to the next shiny political opportunity.
California deserves better than a part-time governor with full-time presidential ambitions. And America certainly deserves better than a president who leaves behind a trail of failed policies and unfulfilled promises.
Key Takeaways:
- 54% of California voters believe Newsom is focused on his presidential ambitions rather than doing his job as governor – including 40% of Democrats.
- Newsom’s 46% approval rating pales in comparison to other Democratic governors like Michigan’s Whitmer (54%), Pennsylvania’s Shapiro (59%), and Kentucky’s Beshear (68%).
- Rather than addressing legitimate criticism of California’s failed high-speed rail project and other issues, Newsom responds with defensive deflection – a telling sign of prioritizing political image over effective governance.
Sources: Breitbart, Los Angeles Times
