Governor Gavin Newsom took on California's critics in an unusual State of the State address, praising the state's economic strength and inclusive values. In Video Tuesday on social media.

Repeating familiar tropes from his past political speeches, Newsom positioned California as a force of light against the dark forces of conservatives and touted the state's efforts to protect civil rights, women's rights and the LGBTQ+ community.

“Our values ​​and our way of life are an antidote to the toxic populism of the right and the fear and anxiety felt by so many today,” Newsom said. “People from all over the world look to California to see what's possible, how we can live, progress and thrive together across all our possible differences.”

The pre-recorded address marks the fourth consecutive year that Governor Newsom has broken California's tradition of delivering his annual address to lawmakers at the State Capitol.

Republican opponents said the decision to again reject traditional practice was an example of Newsom's lack of enthusiasm for the job as he gains growing national profile.

“The governor has no respect for this institution,” said Rep. James Gallagher, R-Yuba City. “The governor acts as if he's too busy to do what needs to be done. Clearly, he can do what needs to be done directly.”

Newsom's aides defended him, pointing out that the California Constitution only requires him to submit the bill to the Legislature in writing. Newsom hosted lawmakers for a private reception at the Governor's Mansion in Sacramento on Monday night.

Governors have historically used the January address to outline the year's policy agenda to lawmakers from both houses and both parties, and a typical speech is an opportunity for lawmakers to take to the floor to salute their constituents and rally support for upcoming initiatives.

But critics of the speech say it is an outdated ritual in an era of one-party rule and that the speech's value has been robbed by the budget.

Newsom, who is dyslexic and dislikes reading from a teleprompter, has not addressed the State of the State of the State of the State of the State since 2020. His address the following year was streamed from an empty Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, which was a COVID-19 vaccination site, with its seating capacity symbolically representing the number of California lives lost to the pandemic at the time.

During his 2022 campaign, Newsom spoke from the California Department of Natural Resources headquarters in Sacramento, a 21-story, environmentally friendly glass tower a few blocks from the state Capitol, promising gasoline discounts for taxpayers. Newsom declined to speak last year, opting instead for a press tour around the state, making policy announcements from Sacramento to San Diego.

The governor's office said Newsom had hoped to address the state legislature this year and had difficulty finding a date that worked for the Legislature.

The speech was originally scheduled for March 13. It was postponed because Proposition 1, a bond measure to fund mental health services, was too close to passing two weeks after the March 5 primary election. Newsom's speech was rescheduled for March 18, but was then postponed again.

The debate over how to fix California's $46.8 billion budget deficit has been heating up for the past month and has continued into last week, with lawmakers and the governor now negotiating with interest groups to withdraw legislation they oppose as deadlines loom to get the measure on the November ballot.

Democratic Sen. Steve Glaser of Orinda said he was unfazed by Newsom's untraditional speaking style, saying only that “we are in times of change” and that he respects the governor's choice to deliver his message.

But to one member of an earlier generation of lawmakers, Newsom's video message sounded cold.

“I hope this is the last time,” said Rusty Areias, a Democrat who served in the House of Representatives in the 1980s and '90s.

“It's something that members always look forward to. I know the governor is very busy, there are probably more important national and international issues, but to me it's a tradition worth maintaining.”

In his speech, Governor Newsom touted his administration's efforts to reduce homelessness and crime, policy areas where he is politically weakest.

“When it comes to homelessness in America, California's critics have deployed the same rhetoric, complaints and finger-pointing,” Newsom said. “No state has done more to address a pernicious problem of homelessness that has been ignored for too long by too many politicians.”

The governor pushed back against the notion that California is “cutting the police budget,” saying the state will hire 1,000 California Highway Patrol officers this year and pass reforms to combat retail theft.

Newsom's speech referenced the November presidential election, which he called “another extraordinary moment in history for California, the nation and the world.” He compared it to the “uneasy” times of 1939, when California Governor Culbert Olson, in his inaugural address, warned of “the subversion of democracy” as fascism spread across Europe.

“We face a choice between a society that embraces our values ​​and a world darkened by division and discrimination,” Newsom said. “The economic prosperity, health, safety and freedoms we enjoy are under attack. There are forces that threaten the very foundations of California's success: our pluralism, our innovative spirit and our diversity.”

Governor Newsom is in Atlanta this week and is scheduled to appear on behalf of President Biden at Thursday's presidential debate. The governor, who has built a reputation as a Democrat unafraid to take on Republicans, has been invited by the Biden campaign to give media interviews before and after the debate in support of the president and his party.

The governor used his speech to attack conservatives nationwide over reproductive rights, an issue Democrats are seeking to exploit in the 2024 election. He described conservatives as “telling women that they're not responsible for their own bodies.”

“When it comes to reproductive rights, their lies are designed to control,” Newsom said. “Their draconian policies send women fleeing across state lines – fugitives from laws established by men more than 100 years ago. Some even force assault victims to give birth to their rapists' children.”

Sacramento Bureau Chief Laurel Rosenhall and reporter Annabel Sosa contributed to this report.