Today, Governor Gavin Newsom will deliver his State of the State address to the California State Legislature, his first in-person address in the Capitol since 2020.
“While it’s nice to see the Governor back in the Capitol, Californians deserve more than a speech,” said Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita). “For years, the Governor has been more focused on national politics, social media stunts, and positioning himself for higher office than addressing the serious challenges facing families here at home.”
Under his leadership, California’s budget has swung from a $98 billion surplus to an $18 billion deficit. Rather than taking responsibility, the governor will likely use his speech to deflect blame and offer excuses, while failing to account for the many promises and programs that have fallen short.
The Real State of the State Under Governor Newsom:
More spending, more homelessness: Nearly $40 billion spent on homelessness over the past six years, yet homelessness continues to worsen statewide.
A broken housing promise: Governor Newsom pledged to build 3.5 million homes by 2025, but housing construction has declined, making affordability even worse.
Homeownership out of reach: The median home price in California is now nearly $900,000, locking families out of the American Dream.
Nation-leading gas prices: Californians pay the highest gas prices in the country, with refinery closures and harmful policies threatening even higher costs.
Rising crime and soft-on-crime policies: Despite voters passing Proposition 36 with nearly 70% support, the Governor has refused to fully fund the measure, leaving communities frustrated and unsafe.
“Californians are paying the price for failed leadership - through higher costs, wasted tax dollars, and policies that simply don’t work,” Valladares added. “It’s no surprise that record numbers of Californians are leaving the state. This is what happens when governing takes a back seat to political ambition.”
“As the Governor prepares to ask voters for a promotion,” Valladares concluded. “I hope the rest of the country is paying close attention to the real state of the state, and the record of broken promises and failed leadership Californians have been living with every day.”