Del Beccaro: As Newsom Prepares His Run For President, Here is The True State of The State of California

This is the record Newsom is using to run for President.  At least $24 billion in money for the homeless unaccounted for—and an increase in the homeless.  Failed schools, criminals from foreign countries protected by law enforcement.  A massive deficit.  $10 billion in FREE health care for illegal aliens, in violation of Federal laws.  Bad roads, fires caused by his policies of no water and no cleaning of forests.

“2. Poverty. Not surprisingly, in 2023, “Once again, California beat . . . every other state when it comes to poverty.” Further, “in 2023, 31.1% of Californians were either at or near poverty.” According to the Pacific Research Institute, “including federal, state, and local funds, California’s per capita spending on income support programs is 81 percent higher than the average expenditures for all other states – per capita spending of $3,869 compared to $2,141.” Again, California does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.

3. Education. According to the World Population Review, California ranked 40^th in education. Worse yet, it ranked 49^th in student safety. That is despite the fact that, “in 2023–24, state, local, and federal funding for California K–12 public schools [was] roughly $131 billion.”

Oh, the unions own and control the government schools, not the parents or the taxpayers. This is going to be fun watching the Hollywood slicky pretend to be a moderate with a record AOC would envy.

As Newsom Prepares His Run For President, Here is The True State of The State of California

Gavin Newsom Will Declare For President in . . .

Thomas Del Beccaro, 3/18/25    https://thomasdelbeccaro.substack.com/p/as-newsom-prepares-his-run-for-president

The 2028 Presidential race on the Democrat side is quietly getting under way. Democrat Gavin Newsom wants to realize his dream of becoming President and has begun rehabbing his political record. Let no one be fooled, however, Newsom has a long record of failure that can’t be ignored.

You can be sure of that Newsom is running for president because has started to change his views and policies. He also has begun to rebrand himself on his new podcast.

Recently, he broke with his party’s doctrine and on the issue of trans-athletes competing in women’s sports. Newsom allowed the following: “I think it’s an issue of fairness, I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness — it’s deeply unfair.” That is a contrast to the Democrats to the 100% of DC Democrats who voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

Further, despite a 25-year average of over 950,000 acres burning a year in California, after the fierce criticism he endured related to lethal LA wildfires, Newsom only recently declared a wildfire state of emergency. His goal is to “fast-track” mitigation efforts – something Trump talked to him about years ago.

Presidential election conversions, however, cannot hide Newsom’s true record. He knows that. That is likely why he failed to give a State of the State address this year.

So, here is my State of the State of California.

First, let me note my 2018 article called The Top Four Reasons California Is Unsustainable. Back then, two of the reasons were California’s over $750 billion in infrastructure debt and trillions in government debt. That has only become worse.

In addition to those serious problems, California’s tax and regulatory burden has been pushing businesses out of the state and they are taking their jobs with them. California lost a House seat and an Electoral College vote because so many have left the state. Last, but not least, California’s Democrats have moved even farther left and the results are clear on these quality-of-life issues demonstrate.

1. Homelessness. In 2023, as Mayor of San Francisco, Newsom started a 10-year program to end homelessness. Two decades later and after spending $24 billion in the last five years on the problem under Newsom, California “homelessness increased by about 30,000, to more than 181,000.” As President Reagan said, “Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.”

2. Poverty. Not surprisingly, in 2023, “Once again, California beat . . . every other state when it comes to poverty.” Further, “in 2023, 31.1% of Californians were either at or near poverty.” According to the Pacific Research Institute, “including federal, state, and local funds, California’s per capita spending on income support programs is 81 percent higher than the average expenditures for all other states – per capita spending of $3,869 compared to $2,141.” Again, California does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.

3. Education. According to the World Population Review, California ranked 40^th in education. Worse yet, it ranked 49^th in student safety. That is despite the fact that, “in 2023–24, state, local, and federal funding for California K–12 public schools [was] roughly $131 billion.”

4. Crime. “California ranks third among states with the highest motor vehicle theft rates, with 14 out of every 1,000 registered vehicles being stolen.” Overall, “California ranks 23rd in crime and corrections . . . and 17th in national violent crime rates, with a 6.1% increase in reported violent crimes and a 6.2% increase in property crime from 2021 to 2024.” Beyond public safety, all of that matters, because California is ground zero for the nation’s insurance crisis.

5. Insurance Crisis. “Car insurance rates in California increased by nearly 50% in 2024.” Further, according to the California Department of Insurance, “between 2020 and 2022, insurance companies declined to renew 2.8 million homeowner policies in the state.” Much of that has to do with California’s wildfires, which the legislature blames on Climate Change. Even if that was the case, the Democrats, who have super majorities in both the Assembly and Senate, have not allocated sufficient funds to fight fires to deal with a problem they claim will take decades to correct.

6. Affordability. Not surprisingly, according to a recent U.S. News & World Report, California ranks 50^th in affordability. Wait, it gets worse.

7. Opportunity. According to a recent U.S. News & World Report, California also ranks 50^th in opportunity.

That is State of the State. That is Gavin Newsom’s record.

What else should matter when considering a politician’s record? California is dead last in affordability and opportunity and worst in poverty.

California’s problems can be traced to the very liberal bent of its Democrat politicians. They are government centric. Almost every issue meets only with government spending instead of private sector relief. Look no further than their $325 billion proposed budget for this year.

Beyond that, last November, in 2024, 68.4% of Californians voted to get tougher on crime in the form of Prop 36. Even so, four months later, “the measure has not been prioritized in Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal.”

In other words, California isn’t responsive to its voters either. Be sure to recall that State of the State of California when Gavin Newsom declares for the Presidency in December of 2026.