California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to President-elect Trump’s victory over Vice President Harris in the 2024 presidential election, emphasizing that he will work with Trump but also issued a warning. Newsom expressed that a second Trump presidency is not the desired outcome, but stated that the fight for freedom and opportunity endures. He pledged to work with the incoming president but also emphasized the importance of defending the Constitution and upholding the rule of law. Newsom highlighted the significance of federalism in the United States democracy, stating, “It’s the United STATES of America.”
Following Vice President Harris’s defeat in the presidential election, Newsom’s influence within the Democratic Party is expected to rise. Political communications teacher Dan Schnur noted that Newsom is poised to lead the resistance government as governor for the next two years, and is considered a prominent and nationally recognized party leader. Despite speculation about Newsom’s potential presidential prospects during the 2024 election cycle, voters in California approved Proposition 36, which Newsom opposed. This ballot initiative cracks down on theft and drug trafficking in response to the rise in crime in the state in recent years.
The approval of Proposition 36 in California reflects a growing concern about crime in the state, particularly in 2021 and 2022 when smash-and-grab crimes became rampant. Criminals were caught on camera breaking into high-end department stores, stealing merchandise, and fleeing the scene. Newsom had criticized Proposition 36, likening it to mass incarceration practices from the 1980s and arguing that the promises of the initiative could not be delivered. However, voters disagreed with Newsom’s stance and voted to approve the measure in an effort to address the crime wave sweeping the state.
With Harris’s loss in the 2024 presidential election, Newsom’s position as governor of California is expected to solidify his leadership within the Democratic Party. He has vowed to work with President-elect Trump while also standing firm in defense of the Constitution and the rule of law. Newsom’s prominence in California politics is likely to increase in the coming years, as he takes on a leadership role in the resistance against the federal government. Despite differences of opinion on Proposition 36, which Newsom opposed, California voters have chosen to implement stricter measures to combat crime in the state, indicating a shift in priorities among the electorate.
