Gavin Newsom in 2018 CA Governor's race
On Abortion:
Welcome women to CA from states without abortion
As the most populous state and the country's biggest economy, Newsom's actions carry outsize weight--and are guaranteed outsize publicity.Consider the national attention it garnered when Newsom signed an executive order in March halting executions--
sparing 737 people on California's death row. Witness the proclamation his office wrote last month "welcoming women to California to fully exercise their reproductive rights" after a wave of conservative states took steps to limit abortion.
Newsom is outspoken on immigration, traveling to El Salvador earlier this year in his first international trip as governor.
"We're going to get it,''
Newsom insists. "We're committed to universal health care. Universal health care means everybody--We will lead a massive expansion of health care, and that's a major deviation from the past.''
Source: Politico.com on 2018 California Gubernatorial race
Jun 17, 2019
On Crime:
Spared 737 people on California's death row
As the most populous state and the country's biggest economy, Newsom's actions carry outsize weight--and are guaranteed outsize publicity.Consider the national attention it garnered when Newsom signed an executive order in March halting executions--
sparing 737 people on California's death row. Witness the proclamation his office wrote last month "welcoming women to California to fully exercise their reproductive rights" after a wave of conservative states took steps to limit abortion.
Newsom is outspoken on immigration, traveling to El Salvador earlier this year in his first international trip as governor.
"We're going to get it,''
Newsom insists. "We're committed to universal health care. Universal health care means everybody--We will lead a massive expansion of health care, and that's a major deviation from the past.''
Source: Politico.com on 2018 California Gubernatorial race
Jun 17, 2019
On Health Care:
We will lead a massive expansion of health care
As the most populous state and the country's biggest economy, Newsom's actions carry outsize weight--and are guaranteed outsize publicity.Consider the national attention it garnered when Newsom signed an executive order in March halting executions--
sparing 737 people on California's death row. Witness the proclamation his office wrote last month "welcoming women to California to fully exercise their reproductive rights" after a wave of conservative states took steps to limit abortion.
Newsom is outspoken on immigration, traveling to El Salvador earlier this year in his first international trip as governor.
"We're going to get it,''
Newsom insists. "We're committed to universal health care. Universal health care means everybody--We will lead a massive expansion of health care, and that's a major deviation from the past.''
Source: Politico.com on 2018 California Gubernatorial race
Jun 17, 2019
On Budget & Economy:
Opportunity zones worthy of bipartisan support
Newsom said the Opportunity Zones program will not only help boost California's already enormous economy but would also help provide funds to deal with state's
housing crisis and would promote energy investment to help the state reach its climate change goals.
The Opportunity Zones program is part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and looks to bring down the capital gains taxes for investors in real estate and business in low income neighborhoods.
The program would permit investors to pay no capital gains taxes--which can run as high as 20 percent--after holding on to an investment for 10 years.
Source: Fox News on 2018 California Gubernatorial race
Mar 20, 2019
On Crime:
Death penalty is ineffective, irreversible and immoral
Gov. Gavin Newsom put a moratorium on the death penalty in California Wednesday, sparing the lives of more than 700 death-row inmates. Saying the death penalty is "ineffective, irreversible and immoral," he signed an executive order granting reprieves
to all 737 Californians awaiting executions--a quarter of the country's death row inmates.His action comes three years after California voters rejected an initiative to end the death penalty, instead passing a measure to speed up executions.
Newsom said the death penalty system has discriminated against mentally ill defendants and people of color, has not made the state safer and has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars. "You, as taxpayers--you have spent $5 billion since we reinstated
the death penalty in this state," he said. "What have we gotten for that?"
But he made clear that he simply believes killing other people is wrong. "If you rape, we don't rape," he said. "I think if someone kills, we don't kill.
Source: Modesto Bee on 2018 California Gubernatorial race
Mar 12, 2019
On Crime:
2016: Respect state referendum on death penalty; 2019: Don't
Newsom has long opposed the death penalty. While campaigning for a measure to repeal the death penalty in 2016, he told The Modesto Bee editorial board he would "be accountable to the will of the voters," if he were elected governor. "I would not get
my personal opinions in the way of the public's right to make a determination of where they want to take us" on the death penalty, he said.Newsom said that before he took office, discussing the death penalty was an "intellectual" exercise.
Now that he has the power to allow executions, he said, it's an emotional decision: he can't be party to the system and still sleep at night. "It's not an abstract question any longer," he said. "I cannot sign off on executing hundreds of human beings."
The moratorium will be in place for the duration of Newsom's time in office. After that, a future governor could decide to resume executions. He told reporters last month that the prospect of executions resuming has been weighing on him.
Source: Modesto Bee on 2018 California Gubernatorial race
Mar 12, 2019
On Immigration:
National Guard for crime on border, not immigration
Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to withdraw National Guard troops from the state's southern border with Mexico, in defiance of the Trump administration's request for support from border states. About 100 of the 360 troops will remain deployed under California's
agreement with the federal government to focus specifically on combating transnational crime such as drug and gun smuggling. Specifically, they will be tasked with providing intelligence on transnational crime and assist with cargo dock operations and
searches of commercial trucks for contraband.Newsom's order will argue that the increase in Central American migrants crossing over the border is the result of a desire to escape violence and
repression fueled in part by the activities of transnational crime organizations. The California guard's resources are best spent tackling those activities, he plans to argue.
Source: CBS News on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Feb 11, 2019
On Immigration:
Border wall is just rhetoric; celebrate diversity
[Six gubernatorial candidates from two parties participated in one debate]: Some of the widest differences--particularly between the Democrats and Republicans--were on immigration. The Republicans supported Trump's plan to build a wall on the
U.S.-Mexico border and the Democrats opposed it. The Democrats supported California's sanctuary state laws and the Republicans promised to overturn them shortly after taking office.Republican John Cox said "this border wall needs to be built.
It's not about grandmothers being pulled out of their homes. I don't want to live next door to MS-13" gang members. [MS-13 is an international criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles in the 1980s, with many members from El Salvador].
"This is the kind of rhetoric that has no place" in the debate, Democrat Gavin Newsom said. In California, "we don't tolerate diversity, we celebrate it."
Source: San Francisco Chronicle on 2018 California governor race
May 8, 2018
On Civil Rights:
Supports affirmative action
Newsom's spokesman stressed that the lieutenant governor believes in affirmative action policies to expand opportunity and ensure public institutions reflect the state's diversity.
As San Francisco mayor, Newsom joined with then-Supervisor Tom Ammiano on legislation to protect affirmative action for city contracts after a judge in 2004 ruled the city's policy was illegal.
Source: The Sacramento Bee on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Nov 17, 2017
On Budget & Economy:
Government has role in economic growth
Gavin is the chief architect of California's Economic Growth and Competitiveness Agenda. It charts a path for better infrastructure, a focus on future manufacturing, building up exports and other pillars of California's success.
Gavin has also joined with others in calling on Congress to utilize funds to boost California's trade competitiveness, invest in California's infrastructure, and help to grow jobs on our waterfront, our farms and our manufacturing floors.
Source: 2018 California Gubernatorial website GavinNewsom.com
Sep 1, 2017
On Environment:
Pro-active on energy and resource management
As a member of the State Lands Commission, Gavin has worked hard to ensure that California is addressing its nuclear and clean energy future through the development of its first strategic plan in over 18 years.
It sets the highest levels of safety and preservation for California's resources under its jurisdiction, and ensures that California's economic growth is balanced with smart, future-oriented management of our state's natural resources.
Source: 2018 California Gubernatorial website GavinNewsom.com
Sep 1, 2017
On Civil Rights:
Early supporter for gay marriage
He certainly showed daring while mayor of [San Francisco]. He's probably best remembered there for ordering city hall officials to issue marriage licenses for
same-sex couples. "We changed the whole trajectory of the debate on that subject, and look how far it has come," he said.
Source: The Union on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Jul 31, 2017
On Health Care:
Supports HealthySF: available to all uninsured residents
He's even prouder of the HealthySF program that makes health insurance available to all uninsured residents of the city,
without regard to their immigration status. "You can get an insurance card and get care and you pay on the basis of income," he said. "It's unique in America."
Source: The Union on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Jul 31, 2017
On Immigration:
Sanctuary cities build trust
Newsom supports San Francisco's status as a "sanctuary city" for undocumented immigrants, as long as they do not commit crimes.
This has built trust that leads to more schooling, vaccinations and other services that these residents might have hesitated to seek, he said.
Source: Modesto Bee on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Jul 26, 2017
On Drugs:
Let California legalization continue
Newsom sent a letter to President Trump urging him not to carry through with threats to launch a federal enforcement effort against recreational marijuana firms that will be legalized in California. Newsom's letter attempts to persuade
the president that a regulated market for adult-use marijuana is preferable to what has existed in the past. "The war on marijuana has failed," Newsom wrote. "It did not, and will not, keep marijuana out of kids' hands."
Source: Los Angeles Times on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Jul 24, 2017
On Gun Control:
Supports background checks
Newsom is a longtime foe of the NRA. He was a primary sponsor of Proposition 63, a ballot measure voters approved in November that requires background checks to purchase ammunition,
bans possession of high-capacity magazines and other gun-safety efforts.
Source: Los Angeles Times on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Jun 30, 2017
On Homeland Security:
Don't gut programs to pay for military buildup
Trump's willing to cut food stamps, Medicaid, the arts &
meals on wheels to over spend on the military & build a do-nothing slab of concrete
Source: Twitter posting on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Jun 11, 2017
On Principles & Values:
Strict separation of church and state
I'm glad we can so vigorously agree on the need to keep a clear,
unwavering separation of church and state.
Source: Twitter posting on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Jun 11, 2017
On Energy & Oil:
California leads the way on green energy
He gave the keynote address at Sonoma County Conservation Action's "Grassroots Gala," an annual event that honors local environmental leaders. Newsom pushed back on Trump's contention that pivoting toward a fossil fuel-free world
would irretrievably harm the U.S. economy. "What is so wrong about de-carbonizing your economy? What's so wrong about what California's done? Seven years, 2.7 million jobs, 2.9 percent GDP (growth)," he said.
Source: The Press Democrat on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Jun 10, 2017
On Crime:
Criminal justice reform is crucial; repeal death penalty
At a forum organized by Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, which pushes back against tough-on-crime laws, Newsom, the lone statewide politician to endorse Proposition 47 in 2014,
which made nonviolent offenses like drug and property crimes misdemeanors instead of felonies, implored them to keep it up. "We'll get there on (repealing) the death penalty," Newsom said.
Source: The Sacramento Bee on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Apr 4, 2017
On Abortion:
Opposes defunding Planned Parenthood
Newsom sounded off after Republican legislation letting states deny federal family planning money to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers squeezed narrowly through the Senate. [Referring to Vice President Mike Pence, he wrote] "Yesterday:
Pence led a forum on empowering women," Newsom wrote on Facebook. "Today: Pence led a group of males in a vote to strip access to birth control & cancer screenings. The hypocrisy is astounding."
Source: San Francisco Chronicle on 2018 California governor race
Mar 30, 2017
On Tax Reform:
Supports tax hikes for public good
Newsom said he was supportive of the recently-adopted $52 billion gas tax hike to build up the state's infrastructure.
He also supports leaning more heavily on taxpayers to fund colleges rather than increase tuition costs.
Source: The Ceres Courier on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Mar 30, 2017
On Drugs:
Pushed Proposition 64, legalizing adult use of marijuana
This past November, Newsom proved he's a serious force to reckon with when it comes to passing groundbreaking legislation. Having started California's Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy in 2014, he campaigned for five months and got
Proposition 64, legalizing adult use of marijuana in the state, passed, with 56 percent of voters in favor. Now, he's the telegenic face of a movement. "I'm happy to be associated with this change. I'm sick and tired of politics and politicians as
usual," says Newsom today. "I'll be kicked out before I rust out. You can love me or hate me and disagree with me, but you sure as hell know where I stand.""Gavin boldly stands up for social issues with unwavering commitment while relentlessly
championing people who can't speak for themselves," says a longtime friend. "This issue is one of many that Gavin thinks of in a big picture way. He's an outlier and a great leader."
Source: Billboard.com on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Jan 19, 2017
On Drugs:
I'm not pro-pot, but anti-prohibition; opposed 2010 Prop 19
Newsom grew up with a father who was "considered an activist judge in his day, particularly as it relates to drug policy. He was a very outspoken critic of the war on drugs," recalls Newsom. Despite his progressive record, Newsom wasn't immediately
pro-legalization. "I've never tried cannabis. I don't have the basis to appreciate it," he says. "I always ask for forgiveness because I really only intellectually know what I'm talking about." He emphasizes that he's "not pro-pot, but
anti-prohibition," and he didn't support the previous attempt to legalize recreational marijuana in California, Proposition 19 in 2010. "I just didn't feel it was appropriately drafted," he says. "There were glaring loopholes."
Still, "the spirit of it was profound and important," and Newsom decided to start his Blue Ribbon Commission as a key first step toward a more coherent approach to legalization. That led directly to the Prop 64 campaign.
Source: Billboard.com on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Jan 19, 2017
Page last updated: Oct 31, 2021