California Governor Gavin Newsom has long been framed as one of America’s most charismatic political figures—an image reinforced by his polished messaging, high-profile media presence, and national ambitions. Since taking office in 2019, Newsom has positioned himself as the face of progressive governance, confronting Republican leaders, expanding social programs, and attempting state-level solutions to issues Congress has repeatedly failed to address.

But as California enters 2026 with a looming budget deficit, rising crime concerns, an ongoing homelessness crisis, and high out-migration, critics argue that Newsom’s lofty vision has delivered mixed results at best. Admirers cite environmental leadership and expanded health care access. Detractors point to fiscal instability, regulatory overreach, and unmet promises.

Six years into his governorship, Newsom leaves behind a record as complex and contradictory as the state he governs.

Economic Strength—Alongside Structural Weakness

Supporters frequently highlight California’s continued status as the world’s fifth-largest economy. Through 2022, tech and entertainment boomed, and Newsom oversaw major investments in green infrastructure, including more than $1 billion for zero-emission projects.

He also expanded homeownership grants, delivering $181 million to lower-income families in 2025.

But the other half of the economic picture is far less rosy.

California now faces an annual budget deficit estimated between $17 billion and $35 billion, following record-high government spending. Businesses continue to flee: more than 350 companies have relocated to Texas, Florida, or Nevada since 2019. Chevron closed its California headquarters. Tesla departed for Austin.

Californians are also burdened with the highest state taxes in the nation, soaring electricity rates, and gas taxes nearing 60 cents per gallon.

The result is a widening divide: a prosperous upper tier and a middle class increasingly squeezed by cost-of-living pressures.

Homelessness: Massive Spending, Modest Outcomes

No issue has defined Newsom’s tenure more than California’s homelessness crisis.

He pledged 3.5 million new homes by 2025. Fewer than 500,000 have been built.

Despite $36 billion in state and local spending, the homeless population has climbed to roughly 187,000, accounting for one-third of all unhoused Americans. A state audit found $24 billion in homelessness funds untracked or unaccounted for, fueling Republican criticism and sharpening public frustration.

Even many Democrats admit the crisis has worsened significantly under Newsom’s watch.

Crime, Public Safety, and the Fallout of Progressive Policy

Newsom supported laws limiting police use of force, closed two prisons, and backed legislative efforts to reverse the effects of Proposition 47, which critics blame for smash-and-grab thefts and retail crime waves.

Yet crime statistics tell a complicated story:

California’s violent crime rate now sits 31% above the national average.

Businesses cite “lawlessness” as a reason for leaving major cities like San Francisco.

Open-air drug markets and street takeovers persist despite increased enforcement.

Voters responded in 2024 by passing Prop 36 to toughen penalties for repeat theft, a measure Newsom ultimately endorsed—but only after years of growing public pressure.

Environment, Energy, and Infrastructure: Ambition vs. Reality

Newsom’s environmental record is one of his strongest selling points among progressives. He ordered the phase-out of gas-powered cars by 2035, expanded Medi-Cal access regardless of immigration status, and sued oil companies for climate damages.

But critics argue that soaring electricity prices, rolling blackouts, and failed solar/battery ventures reflect unrealistic planning rather than green leadership.

The state’s high-speed rail project remains a symbol of dysfunction: more than $15 billion spent, no operational track, with projected costs ballooning past $100 billion.

Healthcare and Social Policy: Expanding Access Amid Controversy

Newsom made California a national abortion sanctuary after Roe v. Wade was overturned, dedicating $20 million to assist out-of-state patients.

His expansion of Medi-Cal to all undocumented immigrants won praise from immigrant-rights advocates but deepened concerns about fiscal sustainability.

He vetoed the Menopause Care Equity Act twice—a move sharply criticized by actress Halle Berry, who accused Newsom of “overlooking half the population.”

Pandemic governance also looms large: California’s strict lockdowns drew both praise and fierce opposition, amplified by Newsom’s infamous maskless French Laundry dinner.

The state also recorded more than $20 billion in unemployment fraud, the largest amount in U.S. history.

Political Standing: A Progressive Icon With National Ambitions

Despite controversies, Newsom maintains a solid base. His approval rating hovered near 55% in early 2025, though polls repeatedly show that 70% of Californians oppose a Newsom 2028 presidential run.

Nationally, he remains a leading Democratic figure, often stepping into policy battles with Republican governors and President Trump. But critics accuse him of governing with an eye on the White House rather than the needs of Californians—an impression reinforced when one of his top aides was indicted in a federal fraud probe.

As his final term winds down and speculation about 2028 intensifies, Newsom’s legacy rests somewhere between bold reformer and overextended idealist.

A Governor of Big Promises—and Bigger Contradictions

Gavin Newsom embodies California’s paradoxes: unmatched innovation alongside deep inequality, ambitious policymaking shadowed by bureaucratic failure, progressive ideals struggling against economic and social realities.

To supporters, he is a defender of democracy and climate action.
To critics, he is the architect of “Califailure,” a cautionary tale of progressive excess.

Either way, Newsom’s record is now central to the national debate over what governance should look like—and whether the California model is a vision to follow or a warning to heed.