Sacramento
Governor Gavin Newsom shared that his social media activities aim to achieve a specific goal, while also poking fun at President Trump and discussing his initiative to redefine California’s Capitol district.
In an interview Wednesday at a Politico-hosted event, Newsom remarked, “The essence of the party challenge is weakness.” He explained that his more aggressive communication strategies, like interviewing Fox News’ Sean Hannity and engaging with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, aim to shift the narrative for Democrats from merely reacting to grievances fuelled by right-wing media to actively establishing their own agenda.
He also pointed to his lively social media posts—making light of Trump’s chaotic antics and the launch of the “Patriot Shop.” Newsom mentioned a proposed “Trump Corruption” cryptocurrency, characterizing it as a jab at the president, suggesting the antics are so outrageous they could even make a dictator blush.
Touching on the difficulties facing Democrats, particularly the stagnation in Washington, he recalled President Clinton’s reflection after the 2002 midterms, saying, “It’s weak and right and wrong.” Newsom stressed, “Our party needs to wake up to that. We have to utilize all our tools to assert ourselves and demonstrate our value to the American public.”
These remarks coincide with his aspirations for a presidential run in 2028, as the Democrats face declining approval ratings. Additionally, he mentioned Proposition 50, a rezoning initiative on the ballot for November 4, which holds significance for the party’s future.
At Newsom’s urging, legislative leaders moved the vote quickly through the state legislature last week. If passed, the measure could aid California Democrats in gaining control and potentially winning five more U.S. House seats in the upcoming elections in 2026, 2028, and 2030, in an effort to counteract Trump’s influence.
In a broader context, California Democrats are ramping up efforts to oppose the recent Republican-led redistricting in Texas, which was designed to help the GOP secure more seats in the House.
