2nd term: Newsom of California draws ‘front line’ with Republican Party

California Gov. Gavin Newsom may have just won a campaign victory, but on Friday he sounded like a politician ready for battle when he pitched his state as a beacon of freedom amid what he called a “growing tide of oppression” in the Republican Party. states at the head.

“The line of battle, they are drawn. I’ll say this: once again, it’s time for a choice,” Newsom said during his inaugural address before the State Capitol as he begins his second and final term as head of the nation’s largest Democratic stronghold.

Although he did not name names, Newsom’s goals were clear as he denounced “little people in big offices”.

He chose January 6 for his inauguration ceremony to mark the second anniversary of the violent attack by supporters of then President Donald Trump on the US Capitol, and he spent the past year denouncing Republican governments. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas. At one point, he named politicians who “demonize Mickey Mouse”, referring to Florida’s ongoing battles with Disney.

“The ugliness that erupted on January 6, 2021, we know this, was actually created for decades – it was provoked by people who have a completely different vision of the future of America,” Newsom said.

Newsom’s remarks, at times reminiscent of a campaign speech, came after he marched with his wife and four children through downtown Sacramento to the Capitol. The sun has finally come out after several days of relentless winds and rains that have hit much of the state.

Presenting California as a leading advocate for freedom, Newsom only touched briefly on the state’s issues, including the ongoing homelessness crisis, and offered few policy details for his second term.

California Republicans were quick to point out problems caused by high energy and gas prices, as well as the state’s projected $25 billion budget deficit for the coming year.

Republican Brian Jones, the State Senate Minority Leader, said issues such as homelessness and the high cost of living in California are pushing some to move to the Republican-led states that Newsom often cites.

“People are fleeing the state because of the policies of his administration and the majority of Democrats who support his policies,” said Jones, who represents part of San Diego County.

“Republicans in California are not going to debate and debate and fight rhetorical challenges across the country,” he added. “We’re going to focus on the issues that ordinary Californians are facing right now.”

Newsom easily won re-election, less than 15 months after fending off a Republican-led recall attempt.

He began his first term in 2019 with Trump as the clear light in Washington. Now that Joe Biden is president, Newsom has turned his fire on fellow governors, especially DeSantis.

On Friday, he denounced statements that “make it harder to vote and make it easier to buy illegal weapons” as well as “silent speeches, fire teachers, kidnap migrants, enslave women.”

Both Newsom and DeSantis are being considered as possible presidential candidates, though perhaps not against each other. Newsom has pledged to support Biden if he runs for a second term, as he currently plans. DeSantis, meanwhile, has not ruled out running in 2024 — even as Trump is keen to return to the White House.

Their competing views on governance, including how best to promote “freedom”, demonstrate the political polarization that has gripped the nation. In his inaugural address Tuesday, DeSantis touched on national issues like immigration and inflation and denounced the “awakening.”

Hundreds of people, including other Democratic leaders such as US Senator Alex Padilla and state attorney general Rob Bonta, joined Newsom’s celebration. Before Newsom’s performance, the marching band gave way to energetic music and a choir. Four of his children, aged 6 to 13, read the Pledge of Allegiance.

While Newsom cited California as the nation’s moral leader, he also reflected on painful moments in the state’s history, such as when voters supported restricting immigrant rights in the 1990s and denied gay marriage in 2008.

In the end, however, California has righted its wrongs and is now standing up for a beacon of civil rights as opposed to “state reds” who sell “oppression as freedom,” he said.

Newsom gave few details about specific political goals for his four-year term. Overall, he said, his administration will support teachers in the classroom, work to expand health care for all, and lower drug prices through the release of generic versions. California is working to develop its own insulin to lower the price of a life-saving drug.

He made little mention of the headwinds he would face with a projected budget deficit that would come after a record surplus that gave him broad leeway to support ambitious policies. The projected deficit will limit what he can spend on and could lead to budget cuts. Newsom will present his first look at spending and policy priorities in a budget address next week.

He also made no mention of the upcoming battle with the oil industry. Lawmakers, at Newsom’s urging, held a special session to consider a penalty on the oil company’s profits.

California gas prices topped $6 a gallon last year, well above the national average.

A potential budget deficit, in particular, could force Newsom to focus more on homeland if he hopes to maintain the strong support he has enjoyed so far, said Sarah Hill, a professor of political science at California State University, Fullerton.

“If he’s still kind of playing on the national stage while the state is in financial trouble and they have to cut costs, I don’t think it will be good,” she said.