Newsom Slams Democrats for ‘Dull’ Messaging

Newsom Urges Democrats to Match GOP Tactics, Defends Redistricting Plan

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday defended his effort to redraw the state’s congressional boundaries, describing it as an essential step to keep political balance. Speaking at a climate-themed conference hosted by The New York Times in New York City, Newsom said the Democratic Party needs to push back harder against President Donald Trump and Republican election strategies.

“This guy’s trying to rig the midterm elections,” Newsom said of Trump, arguing that Republicans are seeking to tilt the playing field well ahead of the next vote.

Newsom also criticized what he sees as a Democratic tendency to rely on rhetoric rather than action. “I promise you, they know us Democrats — we’re more likely to write an op-ed in the New York Times than do a damn thing about it,” he said, noting that this mindset allows the GOP to gain ground. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK

Humor and Boldness in Democratic Messaging

Newsom responded to questions about his use of Trump-style, all-caps social media posts by saying, “It’s a little bit of parody, and a little bit of levity.” He argued that Democrats often come across as overly serious and “a little dull,” suggesting that humor and bold messaging can help energize the party’s base. Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

Slamming Trump's Climate Stance

The governor also pushed back against Trump’s assertion at the United Nations that climate change is a “con job.” Newsom described Trump administration officials as a “wholly owned subsidiary of fossil fuel interests,” and added, “He’s an ideologue, Trump, and he’s not even a good one, because he has no sort of foundational philosophy, and his thinking has the form and substance of fog.” Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Positioning California as a Climate Leader

Newsom emphasized California’s leadership on environmental issues, citing a recent package of bills aimed at extending the state’s greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program, stabilizing wildfire-prone utilities, and preserving oil refining infrastructure. “We’re what’s left of environmental policy, despite the headwinds in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “We are your stable and reliable partner, and we will continue to be in this space.” Bureau of Reclamation, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Eyeing 2028 with an International Platform

Positioned as a likely 2028 presidential contender, Newsom used his Climate Week appearances to contrast his policies with Trump’s and highlight California’s global role. On "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," he decried “authoritarian actions by an authoritarian government,” continuing his pattern of attacking Trump’s leadership before an international audience during the UN General Assembly. U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ryan Quijas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons