SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — California Governor Gavin Newsom drew a stark contrast between his state and its detractors in his State of the State address Tuesday, pulling few punches in his full-throated praise of the Golden State.
Pointing to California’s humanitarian stance toward migrants, its protection of reproductive rights and its action on the homelessness crisis, Newsom said the state took action while Republicans and conservatives focused on diversion and distraction.
Newsom wasted no time in drawing battle lines, invoking the dawn of World War II in his opening remarks. He said — like in 1939, when the state faced “the destruction of democracy” — California now faces another extraordinary point in time.
“We are presented with a choice between a society that embraces our values and a world darkened by division and discrimination,” Newsom said in his prerecorded speech. “The economic prosperity, health, safety and freedom that we enjoy are under assault. Forces are threatening the very foundation of California's success — our pluralism, our innovative spirit, and our diversity.”
The annual speech was long delayed. Initially set for mid-March, the governor postponed it and had said he was considering not delivering any address this year. Then, over the weekend, Newsom announced he’d provide written comments to the Legislature and a prerecorded speech online — a move that drew criticism and accusations of disrespect from some Republican lawmakers.
The governor delivered criticisms of his own in his Tuesday address. Calling the “California dream” one built on opportunity, Newsom said the state’s values and way of life are an antidote to the right’s poisonous populism. He said the success of conservatives and California bashers depends on the Golden State’s failure.
“They want to roll back social progress, social justice, racial justice, economic justice, clean air, clean water, and basic fundamental fairness,” Newsom said. “They would cleave America from the principles of freedom and the rule of law.”
Newsom detailed several of the state’s recent successes, like the bill written by state Senator Nancy Skinner, a Berkeley Democrat, that gave Arizona doctors the ability to perform abortions for their patients in California.
The bill stemmed from Arizona’s Supreme Court's upholding of a Civil War-era ban on abortion. The Arizona Legislature has since passed a bill repealing the ban, though it will remain intact for another few months.
Pivoting to the U.S.-Mexico border, Newsom said Republicans have chosen cynicism and partisan politics instead of positive action. In contrast, he sent California National Guard troops to stop the flow of fentanyl into the state, which gave federal agents an opportunity to perform their main job of border security.
According to Newsom, the National Guard presence led to the seizure of over 62,000 pounds of fentanyl last year, and the discovery of 5.8 million pills with fentanyl across the state in the first four months of this year.
Simultaneously, the state has offered humanitarian assistance and temporary shelter to migrants in border areas, while congressional Republicans have instead chosen “inertia, politics, and pure political pandering.”
“When they speak of immigrants poisoning American blood, and of mass deportations and detention camps, and of ‘vermin’ who want to destroy America, this is the language of destruction — of 1939, when Governor (Culbert) Olson issued his warning,” Newsom said, referencing former President Donald Trump’s comments about poisoning blood.
California has created solutions to problems, not offered rhetoric and cast blame like its detractors, Newsom said. According to the governor, the state has cleared over 9,300 homeless encampments. It’s also moved tens of thousands of people from homelessness into shelter or housing. He credited the Homekey program, which has brought new life to former hotels and apartments and given shelter to over 71,000 people.
