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Nearly two weeks after Gov. Gavin Newsom launched a special legislative session to fund a legal battle against the president-elect, Democratic leaders are toning down and reinventing the California-versus-Trump picture he created. It looked like he was doing it.
“It’s not a resistance brand,” Newsom said in an interview with the Times. “It’s about pragmatism. It’s about preparedness. We’d be stupid if we didn’t address this issue by January.”
The subtle shift suggests the governor may be rethinking his role as liberal champion in the nation’s culture wars in the wake of Donald Trump’s loss to Vice President Kamala Harris. are.
But as he set out on his “California Jobs First” tour to talk about the Central Valley’s economy, Newsom couldn’t resist the pull of a fight over progressive values with Trump.
Despite the state’s budget crunch, he announced Monday that California will offer rebates to buyers of zero-emission vehicles if President Trump follows through on his threat to cut off federal subsidies for clean cars. Tesla could be excluded from state rebates under a plan to limit lending to manufacturers with low market share, a move that Tesla owner Elon Musk, a Trump ally and Newsom critic, said could be excluded from state rebates. It is something that attacks.
This seesaw is a delicate balance between political brawlers admired by the Democratic base and more thoughtful national leaders who can win back disenfranchised voters across the country who supported Trump in the election. It highlights the challenge Newsom faces as he seeks to meet the challenge.
“He’s caught between the old ways of being the tip of the spear and being a pure resistance, and now he’s considering a run for president,” said Mike Madrid, a Republican political consultant. spoke.
Madrid said Newsom is not alone. In Madrid’s view, the governor’s reshuffle symbolizes the liquidation taking place within the Democratic Party, which is focused on identity politics in 2024, unaware that President Trump is appealing to voters with economic issues. That’s what it means.
“Gavin Newsom has led the Democratic Party to a place where they can win these cultural battles, but that’s not what this election is about,” Madrid said. “The battle is about affordability, and California has a big weakness there.”
The presidential election highlighted the Republican Party’s strategy to position California and the Democratic Party to the left of much of the country. California leaders are preparing to defend themselves against mass deportations, reversals on LGBTQ+ rights and efforts to undermine climate change policies during the Trump presidency.
Embracing electric vehicles is another litmus test for Democrats against President Trump’s policies. Mr. Newsom has spearheaded a mandate to transition all new cars sold in California to zero-emission vehicles by 2035. The new state aid is aimed at protecting the electric vehicle market and industry jobs based here, he argued.
To California’s Republican opponents, the proposed electric vehicle credit is another example of the liberal governor being “out of touch.”
A recent study by Pew Research Center found that only about 3 in 10 Americans nationwide are considering buying an electric vehicle. In the Golden State, electric vehicles account for about 25% of all new car sales, and while Newsom has touted the increase, it is a sign that most Californians have not yet made the switch to electric vehicles. are.
“The reality for most working people is that they need a gas car, but they can’t afford or want an electric car,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City). “You’re talking about expanding tax credits to Hollywood and funding people who want to buy EVs, and you’re missing the memo.”
David McCune, a political science professor at Sonoma State University, said electric vehicle subsidies are a “limousine liberal” issue that college-educated, wealthy voters care about, while the party is losing workers. Class voters said they were more concerned about costs. Gasoline and rent.
“Wakeism gives him a platform, but wakeism also exposes his political weaknesses,” McEwan said. “The culture war issues that expose him are also something of an Achilles heel in delivering votes.”
If Newsom has White House ambitions, the governor needs to show more discipline and a comprehensive view of the way forward, rather than an “opportunistic” reaction to President Trump that draws national headlines. The message needs to be hammered home, McCune said.
“He needs to be a central figure in the minds of voters and when they vote. I think that’s a test of political maturity that he hasn’t met yet,” McEwan said.
As lawmakers prepare to return to the Capitol for the start of a special session on Monday, Newsom and legislative leaders have reiterated their message that they are ready to work with the president-elect. This special session will focus on abortion access, climate change policy, LGBTQ+ rights, and the California Department of Justice to protect disaster funding so California is not caught off guard if President Trump carries out his policies as expected. It is said that an increase in legal funding is being requested.
“Any chance we have to work with a new administration that benefits California, of course we’re all on board,” said State Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg). “But let’s be clear: If the next president is going to weaken our state and undermine our freedoms and our democracy, he’s going to have to do whatever Californians are determined to do.” You will soon find out.”
House Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) told his caucus days after the election that it wasn’t 2016, when lawmakers introduced bills in rapid succession in “pro-Trump” California, because much of the work He said this is because it has already been completed. end. He said lawmakers should focus on helping Californians who could lose under the next president.
The message voters sent in the election is also an opportunity for his caucus to advance its priorities around affordable housing and making sure families feel like future generations can afford to live here.
“As a member of Congress and as Speaker of Congress, I obviously feel a huge responsibility because it is incumbent upon us to make sure that we move forward on these issues, and that we We obviously haven’t convinced the residents of that.” That’s what we’re doing,” Rivas said.
Madrid said it was common for any political party to conduct a review after losing an election. But Newsom and the Democratic Party will face further challenges on immigration and other issues after Trump takes office.
Their attempts to restrain the national struggle and focus on the cost of living could disappear by mid-January, he said.
“It is extremely unlikely that this issue will be resolved because it is essentially about housing and cannot be resolved overnight,” Madrid said. “That’s something we’ve ignored for decades, especially in this administration.”
Staff writer Jaweed Kaleem contributed to this report.
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