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Gavin Newsom
16%
#50 of 50

Gavin Newsom

California D | 2nd term (term-limited)
2019-01-07Took Office 7 yrs, 5 moIn Office 263Metrics Scored 264 / 1653Total Points

Section A: Governance

153/300
51%

Section B: State Outcomes

255/975
26%

Section C: Oath Fidelity

-144 (-378 to +378)

Section A — Governance 153/300

9 subsections evaluating executive performance: budget execution, legislative relations, appointments, emergency management, transparency, ethics, program management, federal relations, and constituent service.

On-time budget submission
Budgets submitted within constitutional deadlines. May Revise and final budgets delivered on schedule.
CA Constitution Art. IV §12; CA DOF Budget Publication Dates 2019-2025
2
Budget accuracy — revenue forecast vs actual
CATASTROPHIC forecast failure. FY2021-22 projected $97.5B surplus — within 2 years became $68B cumulative deficit. LAO found revenue projections off by tens of billions. Capital gains tax revenue dropped 24% in one year.
CA LAO Fiscal Outlook 2023-24, 2024-25; CA DOF Revenue Estimates; CA Franchise Tax Board Collections Data
0
Rainy day fund management
Budget Stabilization Account (BSA) built to $22.3B by 2022 (constitutional max). Now being drawn down to cover deficit. Still has reserves but trajectory is negative.
CA State Treasurer BSA Reports; CA DOF Budget Summary
2
State credit rating trajectory
CA maintains AA- from S&P (below most large states). No upgrade during tenure despite massive revenue surge. Rating unchanged — no progress toward AAA.
S&P Global Ratings — State of California; Moody's Aa2 (stable)
1
Pension funding ratio trajectory
CalPERS funded ratio ~72% (FY2024). CalSTRS ~73%. Among worst-funded state pension systems nationally. Slight improvement from 2019 (~70%) but still critically underfunded with $400B+ in unfunded liabilities combined.
CalPERS CAFR FY2023-24; CalSTRS Actuarial Valuation 2024
1
Debt per capita trajectory
CA total state debt ~$145B (2024). Debt per capita ~$3,700 — among highest in nation. Increased significantly during tenure with new bond measures and deficit spending.
CA State Treasurer Debt Affordability Report 2024; Census Population Estimates
0
CAFR/ACFR published on time
ACFR published within Gov. Code deadline (Dec 31). FY2022-23 ACFR published Dec 16, 2024 — technically on time but with modified opinions on Federal Fund and Governmental Activities due to EDD misreporting UI fraud liabilities. FY2023-24 required EDD restatement of beginning fund balances after DOL clarified ineligible UI payments not owed back.
CA State Controller ACFR FY2022-23, FY2023-24; CA State Auditor Reports 2023-001, 2024-001
2
Audit findings — material weaknesses
Multiple audit findings on EDD internal controls. State Auditor Report 2021-116 found EDD had material weaknesses in fraud detection. Additional findings on homelessness spending accountability.
CA State Auditor Report 2021-116 (EDD); Report 2021-600 Series
1
Federal grant fund accounting
$20B-$31B in fraudulent EDD unemployment insurance claims during pandemic. DOL OIG found California's EDD paid claims to inmates, deceased individuals, out-of-state applicants, and identity theft victims with NO verification. Largest UI fraud in US history.
DOL OIG Report 19-22-004-03-315; CA State Auditor Report 2021-116; EDD Strike Team Report July 2020
0
Anti-fraud controls — federal programs
TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE. EDD had ZERO identity verification on pandemic UI claims for months. Bank of America (EDD debit card issuer) flagged 345,000 suspicious claims in one batch — EDD had not flagged any. 35,000 claims filed from state prisons went undetected. DOL OIG called it worst state UI fraud nationally.
DOL OIG Pandemic Response Oversight; CA State Auditor Report 2021-116; Sacramento Bee/CDCR prison data
0
Tax revenue vs expenditure alignment
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. From projected $97.5B surplus (2022) to $31.5B deficit (2023-24) then $37.9B deficit (2024-25). Cumulative shortfall ~$68B over 2 fiscal years. New spending commitments enacted during surplus now unfunded.
CA LAO Fiscal Outlook Nov 2023, Nov 2024; CA DOF May Revise 2024, 2025
0
Capital budget execution rate
High-speed rail: Original budget $33B (2008 Prop 1A) — current estimate $128B+ for full system. Originally promised SF-LA by 2020. Now: Bakersfield-Merced segment alone not expected until 2030s. Over 300% over budget, decades behind.
CA High-Speed Rail Authority 2024 Business Plan; Prop 1A Bond Act (2008); CHSRA 2024 Project Update Report
0
Vendor/contractor oversight
COVID emergency contracts had oversight issues — $1B no-bid contract with BYD for masks (delivery delayed months, quality concerns). High-speed rail contractor disputes. But not as systematic as some states.
CA DGS Emergency Procurement Records 2020; State Auditor COVID Contract Review
1
Federal funding maximization
CA captured ~$150B total from American Rescue Plan alone (including $27B state fiscal recovery, $15B ESSER III education). Aggressively pursued CARES Act, ARPA, and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act competitive grants. Largest state recipient in absolute dollars, though proportionate to population and GDP.
USASpending.gov — California; NCSL ARPA Allocations; CA DOF Federal Fund Reports; Census Federal Aid to States
2
Program eligibility verification systems
EDD PAID 35,000+ CLAIMS FILED FROM STATE PRISONS. Paid claims to deceased individuals. Paid duplicate claims under different names at same addresses. Zero cross-referencing with CDCR, Social Security death records, or other states. Total verification failure.
CA State Auditor Report 2021-116; CDCR-EDD cross-reference data; DOL OIG
0
Signature legislation enacted
Signed $20/hr fast-food minimum wage (SB 1228), environmental legislation, gun control package, reparations task force. Results mixed — fast-food wage increase led to job losses and price increases at chains.
CA Legislature Bill Tracking; BLS QCEW CA restaurant employment data 2024
2
Veto override rate
Zero vetoes overridden. D supermajority in legislature but caucus generally aligned with governor.
CA Legislature Journal; Governor's Veto Records
3
Bipartisan bills signed
CA legislature is D supermajority. Very few bipartisan bills — most major legislation passed on party-line or near-party-line votes.
CA Legislature Vote Records 2019-2025
1
Special sessions called
Called special session on gas prices (2023) — produced ABX2-1 gas price gouging penalty. Effectiveness unclear — CA still has nation's highest gas prices. Critics called it political theater.
CA Governor's Office Executive Order; CA Energy Commission Gas Price Data
1
Executive orders — legal challenges
COVID executive orders faced multiple legal challenges. Church closures ruled unconstitutional by SCOTUS (South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom, 2020). Gun control measures face ongoing litigation.
South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom, 592 U.S. ___ (2020); SCOTUS docket
1
Line-item veto usage
CA governor has line-item veto under Art. IV §10(e). Used aggressively during deficit years — 2024-25 May Revise proposed $34B in cuts over two years including $1.2B from housing and $3B from climate programs. Vetoed 1 in 5 bills (2024) and 123 of 917 bills (2025). No overrides on line-item vetoes.
CA Constitution Art. IV §10(e); CalMatters veto analysis 2024-2025; CA DOF May Revise 2024
2
Regulatory burden change
Massive regulatory increase. AB 5 (independent contractor restrictions) devastated gig economy. New employment mandates, environmental regulations, housing mandates, gun restrictions, data privacy rules. CA ranked most regulated state.
CA Office of Administrative Law Register; Pacific Research Institute regulatory index; CA Legislature new law counts 2019-2025
0
Budget negotiation success
Budget negotiations complicated by massive deficit whiplash. 2024-25 budget required $16B in cuts and delays. Legislature pushed back on proposed cuts to social programs.
CA DOF Budget Summary 2024-25; Legislature Budget Conference Reports
1
Bill signing rate on popular legislation
Signed $20/hr fast-food minimum wage (AB 1228, popular among workers but caused 10K+ restaurant job losses per BLS). Gun control bills popular in CA (PPIC shows 67% support). Cannabis regulation maintained. Also signed divisive measures — AB 5 gig worker restrictions drew massive backlash, leading to Prop 22 reversal by voters.
CA Legislature Records; PPIC Public Policy Surveys; BLS QCEW CA 2024; Prop 22 (2020)
2
Legislative relationship
D supermajority (over 2/3 in both chambers) made legislative relationship inherently smooth. Signed ~800 bills in 2025 session alone. High bill output but low conflict threshold — supermajority means override-proof, so governor rarely pressured. Occasional tension on budget cuts during deficit (legislature resisted social program reductions).
CA Legislature Bill Counts by Session 2019-2025; CalMatters legislative analysis
2
Implementation of voter-approved measures
Implemented Prop 1 ($6.4B mental health bond, 2024). Implemented Prop 36 crime reforms (2024). Some delays on implementation timelines.
CA Secretary of State; Governor Implementation Reports
2
Task force follow-through
Homelessness: Spent $24B+ over 5 years — homelessness INCREASED 24% (HUD PIT: 151,278 in 2019 — 181,399 in 2023 — 187,084 in 2024). CA State Auditor (Report 2023-102): 'state has spent $24 billion but lacks the necessary data to assess whether its programs are effective.' Reparations task force: $800B+ in recommendations essentially shelved — no direct cash payments endorsed. Follow-through on key promises is abysmal.
HUD Annual Homeless Assessment Report 2019, 2023, 2024; CA State Auditor Report 2023-102 (April 2024); CA Reparations Task Force Final Report 2023
0
Policy reversals under pressure
Reversed on Diablo Canyon nuclear plant closure (extended operations after previously supporting shutdown). Reversed multiple COVID policies under pressure. Signed Prop 36 crime reforms after opposing similar measures for years.
Diablo Canyon SB 846 (2022); Governor's COVID Executive Orders timeline; Prop 36 (2024)
1
Appointee criminal/ethics issues
Former chief of staff Dana Williamson indicted Nov 2025 on 23 federal counts — bank/wire fraud, conspiracy, false tax returns — for allegedly siphoning $225K from a dormant campaign account and $1.7M in fraudulent tax deductions. Cal OES Deputy Director Ryan Buras (appointed 2019) faced sexual harassment lawsuit from multiple women. Newsom not personally implicated in Williamson case.
DOJ indictment Nov 2025 (Williamson); CalMatters Nov 2025; Bowyer v. Cal OES lawsuit
3
Agency head vacancy rate
Key agencies generally staffed but notable gaps. EDD had director turnover during crisis — Sharon Hilliard resigned under pressure Aug 2020, replaced by Rita Saenz. State vacancy rate rose from 13% (2015) to 21% (Dec 2023) — vacant positions grew 52% while established positions grew only 11.5%. Critical shortages in healthcare, corrections, IT.
Governor's Office Appointment Records; UC Berkeley Labor Center Civil Service Vacancies 2022-23; CalHR
2
State employee turnover
Statewide vacancy rate surged to 21% by Dec 2023 (up from 13% in 2015). EDD turnover acute during pandemic — director resigned under pressure, mass staff burnout processing 1.5M+ backlogged claims. CalHR data shows retention challenges in corrections (CDCR), healthcare (DHCS), and IT positions where private sector pay far exceeds state compensation in high-cost CA.
CalHR Workforce Data 2020-2024; UC Berkeley Labor Center Vacancy Report 2023; CalHR Total Compensation Report 2023
1
Diversity of appointments
Most diverse appointments in CA history. Appointed first Latina and Black woman to CA Supreme Court. Cabinet reflects state demographics.
Governor's Office Records; CA Judicial Council
3
Judicial appointment quality
Made 695 judicial appointments through 2025 (118 in 2025 alone) from 2,303 applicants. Over 50% women; over 50% Asian, Black, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander. Appointed first Latina (Patricia Guerrero) and first openly transgender judge to CA bench. State Bar JNE Commission rated vast majority qualified or well-qualified.
Governor's Office Judicial Appointment Data 2025; Ballotpedia; CA State Bar JNE Commission
2
State workforce pay competitiveness
SEIU Local 1000 contract (2023-2026) provides 3% annual raises — totaling 9-10% over 3 years. But CA cumulative inflation was ~26-28% (2019-2024) vs national ~22-23%, so real wages declined. LAO estimated contract costs add $1.5B/year ($670M General Fund) by 2025-26. CalHR 2023 Total Compensation Report shows state pay lags private sector by 20-30% in IT and healthcare.
SEIU Local 1000 MOU 2023-2026; LAO MOU Fiscal Analysis 2023; CalHR Total Compensation Report 2023-2024
2
Whistleblower protection
EDD employees who raised concerns about fraud were not adequately protected or heard. State Auditor found internal warnings were ignored. But no documented systematic retaliation campaign.
CA State Auditor Report 2021-116; EDD internal communications
1
Inspector General independence
State Auditor operated independently. Published critical reports without interference.
CA State Auditor Office Records
2
State employee morale
CalHR launched Employee Engagement Program in 2023 but no published statewide survey results since 2015. EDD staff morale plummeted during pandemic — processing 1.5M backlogged claims, 98% phone call drop rate, death threats from frustrated claimants. 21% overall vacancy rate (2023) suggests retention/morale issues statewide. CDCR and DHCS had notably high attrition.
CalHR Statewide Employee Engagement Program 2023; GovOps Employee Engagement Survey; CalHR Vacancy Data
2
Nepotism/cronyism
No documented nepotism in state hiring. Newsom connected to wealthy families (Getty, Brown, Pelosi) but no state employment violations.
CA Ethics Records
3
Senior staff criminal charges
Former chief of staff Dana Williamson arrested and indicted Nov 2025 on 23 federal counts including bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the US, and false tax returns. Charged with siphoning $225K from dormant campaign account and claiming $1.7M in fraudulent tax deductions (including $15K Chanel bag and $170K birthday trip). Pleaded not guilty. Newsom not implicated.
DOJ indictment Nov 2025; CalMatters Nov 12, 2025; CNN/NBC/WashPost coverage
3
Agency performance accountability
EDD performance was catastrophic — months-long backlogs while $20B+ stolen. Homelessness spending produced no improvement. Agency accountability metrics absent for key programs.
EDD Strike Team Report July 2020; CA State Auditor Reports; HUD PIT Count Data
1
Disaster declaration timeliness
Issued timely emergency declarations for 2020 wildfires (33 deaths, 4.2M acres), COVID-19 (March 4, 2020 — among first states), 2023 atmospheric river flooding, 2025 LA Palisades/Eaton wildfires (Jan 7, 2025). Multiple concurrent FEMA major disaster declarations secured. COVID state of emergency maintained March 2020 through Feb 2023 — criticized as excessively prolonged.
CA OES Emergency Proclamation Records; FEMA Disaster Declarations 4558, 4569, 4683, 4856
3
FEMA Public Assistance secured
Secured multiple FEMA major disaster declarations: DR-4558 (2020 wildfires), DR-4569 (2020 wildfires), DR-4683 (2023 storms/flooding), DR-4856 (2025 LA wildfires). FEMA obligated ~$2.7B for 2025 Southern CA wildfires alone (as of March 2025). Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation grants all activated. CA is one of FEMA's most frequent declarants.
FEMA.gov Disaster Declarations — California; FEMA Obligation Data DR-4856
2
Emergency reserve adequacy
Budget Stabilization Account (BSA) peaked at $22.3B (2022) providing substantial emergency cushion. However, BSA now being drawn down to cover structural deficit — projected to drop below $10B by 2026. Emergency reserve trajectory shifted from building to depleting. Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties also drawn upon. Reserves adequate in absolute terms but declining rapidly.
CA DOF Emergency Fund Reports; CA State Treasurer BSA Reports; LAO Fiscal Outlook 2024-25
2
Lives lost — preventable from state failure
MASSIVE preventable deaths from state failures. 2020 wildfire season: 33 deaths, 4.2M acres, 10,000+ structures destroyed — CPUC failed to enforce PG&E safety requirements. 2025 LA wildfires (Palisades/Eaton): 29+ deaths, 16,000+ structures destroyed, fire hydrants ran dry, depleted fire budgets, inadequate brush clearance. Rolling blackouts (2020) endangered medically vulnerable. Total preventable wildfire deaths during tenure: 80+.
CAL FIRE Incident Records 2019-2025; CPUC Investigation Reports; LAFD/LA County Fire 2025 After-Action; FEMA Disaster Declarations
0
Post-disaster recovery
Paradise (Camp Fire 2018) recovery still incomplete 7+ years later. Rebuilding pace slow. Some wildfire communities still not rebuilt.
FEMA PA Closeout Records; Town of Paradise Rebuilding Reports
1
Public health emergency response
COVID: CA had among LONGEST school closures in the nation — many districts closed 18+ months. Studies show CA children suffered significant learning loss. Lockdown policies were among strictest nationally while outcomes were roughly at national average — restrictions did not produce measurably better results.
Burbio School Opening Tracker; NCES Learning Loss Data; CDC COVID Data Tracker — California vs National
1
Infrastructure failure prevention
AUGUST 2020 ROLLING BLACKOUTS: CAISO ordered rolling blackouts affecting 800,000+ customers during heat wave. Grid failed due to inadequate planning — insufficient reserve margins, over-reliance on solar without storage. CPUC (Newsom-appointed commissioners) failed to plan for evening peak. First rolling blackouts since 2001 Enron crisis.
CAISO Root Cause Analysis — August 2020; CPUC Final Root Cause Analysis Oct 2020; CA Energy Commission
0
National Guard deployment appropriateness
Guard deployed appropriately for state emergencies: 2,500 troops for 2025 LA wildfires (doubled then tripled deployment), COVID-19 testing/logistics support, wildfire suppression annually. Withdrew most Guard from border mission in Feb 2019 (keeping 110 for Cal Fire support). Clashed with Trump administration in 2025 over federalization of Guard troops for immigration enforcement — challenged legality in court.
CA Military Department Records; Governor's Office deployment announcements Jan 2025; NPR Feb 2019
2
Emergency communication
Held near-daily COVID press briefings during 2020-2021 peak (streamed live, widely covered). Activated Wireless Emergency Alerts for wildfires and evacuations. CA Alert system provided multilingual emergency notifications. However, 2025 LA wildfire evacuation communications faced criticism — some residents reported confusing or late alerts for Palisades fire. Overall emergency communication infrastructure is robust but execution gaps emerged in rapid-onset events.
Governor's Office Media Logs; CA Alert System Records; LA County OES After-Action 2025
2
Interagency coordination
EDD coordination with CDCR (prisons), SSA (death records), and other states was nonexistent — enabling fraud. CAISO/CPUC coordination failure caused blackouts. Some wildfire response coordination gaps.
CA State Auditor Report 2021-116; CAISO Root Cause Analysis; After-Action Reports
1
Pandemic response metrics
CA COVID outcomes roughly at national average — death rate slightly better per capita. But CA had among strictest restrictions, suggesting restrictions didn't produce proportionally better outcomes.
CDC COVID Data Tracker — California; Johns Hopkins Mortality Data
2
Disaster preparedness & emergency infrastructure
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. 2025 Palisades/Eaton wildfires: 29+ deaths, 16,000+ structures destroyed. Vegetation management targets repeatedly not met — state cleared fraction of planned fire breaks. 2020 wildfires: 33 deaths, 10,000+ structures. Rolling blackouts during heat waves. Fire prevention budgets allocated but execution lagged. CAL FIRE resources strained. Despite $54B committed to speculative environmental programs, actual disaster prevention infrastructure chronically underfunded.
CAL FIRE; CA State Auditor; LA County Fire; CPUC
0
FOIA/open records compliance
CA Public Records Act compliance has been poor. First Amendment Coalition documented slow responses. Multiple lawsuits over delayed/denied records. Governor's office slow on COVID-era records.
First Amendment Coalition CA PRA Compliance Reports; Court Records — PRA Litigation
1
Governor's schedule availability
CalMatters (Sept 2025): Governor's calendar not released for 5+ months despite monthly requests. Last provided April 2025 covering Sept-Dec 2024. First Amendment Coalition called it 'deeply problematic.' Entries appear copied from calendar into text file rather than native format as law requires. Sacramento Superior Court previously ordered disclosure of PG&E meeting records after ABC10 lawsuit. Schedule availability deteriorated significantly in later years of tenure.
CalMatters Sept 2025; First Amendment Coalition; ABC10 v. Governor's Office (Sacramento Superior Ct.)
2
Campaign finance compliance
FPPC settlement Nov 2024: Newsom for Governor 2018 committee failed to timely report $1.12M in subvendor payments on pre-election statement. Amended on election day (Nov 6, 2018). Also settled for late filing of 18 behested payment reports (charitable donations made on his behalf). Under FPPC investigation since 2021 for late behested payment disclosures. Paid fine but violations were disclosure timing — not illegal contributions.
FPPC Stipulation Nov 2024 — Newsom for Governor 2018; CalMatters Oct 2024; FPPC Enforcement Records
3
Financial disclosure
Annual Statements of Economic Interests filed with FPPC. Placed Plumpjack Group (wine/hospitality empire valued at $20M+) into blind trust upon taking office (2018). However, PlumpJack businesses received ~$3M in PPP loans during COVID — raising questions since Newsom set reopening policies affecting restaurants/wineries. $9.1M Marin home purchase through LLC structure scrutinized but FPPC cleared it (payments from Newsom or exempt family).
CA FPPC Financial Disclosure Filings; PlumpJack PPP data (SBA); FPPC determination on home purchase 2021
2
Open meetings compliance
No documented major Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act violations by governor-directed state agencies. AG published updated Bagley-Keene Guide in 2023 and 2024 reinforcing compliance requirements. COVID-era shift to virtual meetings raised procedural questions but legislature passed AB 2449 (2022) codifying teleconference flexibility. Some state boards faced minor compliance complaints but no systemic violations traced to governor's office.
CA AG Bagley-Keene Guide 2023-2024; AB 2449 (2022); CA AG Open Meetings Enforcement Records
3
Open data portal
CA Open Data Portal (data.ca.gov) sponsored by Government Operations Agency hosts datasets from multiple state agencies with portal metrics dashboard tracking usage and publication. Supplemented by Open FI$Cal (open.fiscal.ca.gov) displaying state spending data from Financial Information System for California. CalData initiative within GovOps promotes data-driven governance. Portal includes COVID, wildfire, environmental, budget, and demographic datasets. Among most comprehensive state portals nationally.
data.ca.gov; open.fiscal.ca.gov; GovOps CalData initiative; NASCIO recognition
2
Budget transparency
ebudget.ca.gov (launched 2005, maintained through tenure) provides Governor's Budget, May Revise, enacted budget, and Budget Summary with searchable line items. Supplemented by Open FI$Cal spending transparency portal and LAO independent fiscal analysis. Budget documents include detailed department-level breakdowns, charts, and Governor's Summary narrative. Among most transparent state budget systems nationally, though LAO has noted that some spending categories (particularly homelessness and climate) lack outcome tracking.
ebudget.ca.gov; CA DOF Budget Publications; LAO Fiscal Outlook reports
2
Lobbying disclosure
CA lobbying expenditures hit record $540M in 2024 (10% increase over 2023) — all disclosed through Cal-Access system maintained by Secretary of State. FPPC enforces lobbyist registration, quarterly reporting, gift limits, and revolving door restrictions under Political Reform Act. Cal-Access provides searchable public database of all lobbying activity, employer reports, and expenditure details. System maintained and functional throughout tenure.
CA Secretary of State Lobbying Records; CalMatters April 2025 lobbying data; FPPC Lobbying Registration Rules
2
IG report publication
CA State Auditor (Elaine Howle until 2021, then Grant Parks) published dozens of critical reports without suppression — including devastating EDD fraud audit (2021-116), homelessness spending audit (2023-102 finding $24B spent with no measurable outcomes), high-speed rail reviews, and annual state financial audits. Reports publicly available at auditor.ca.gov. No evidence of interference with report publication or findings.
CA State Auditor Reports 2019-2025; auditor.ca.gov publication records
2
Legislative audit cooperation
Administration slow to provide EDD documents to State Auditor. Some delays on audit cooperation during pandemic.
CA State Auditor Reports; Legislative Analyst Office Communications
1
Press conference accessibility
Regular press conferences during COVID and wildfires. Generally accessible to media.
Governor's Office Media Schedule
2
State contract transparency
COVID emergency procurement bypassed normal transparency. $1B BYD mask contract had limited public disclosure initially. Emergency powers reduced normal procurement oversight for months.
CA DGS Emergency Procurement Records; State Auditor COVID Contract Review 2021
1
Court order compliance
Complied with SCOTUS ruling in South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom (2020) striking down church attendance limits. Complied with district court injunctions on COVID restrictions. Complied with federal receivership orders in Plata v. Newsom (prison healthcare). No documented contempt of court. Did pursue aggressive appeals before complying in some cases (church restrictions went through multiple rounds of litigation before final SCOTUS order).
South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom, 592 U.S. (2020); Plata v. Newsom; Court dockets
2
Personal criminal charges
No criminal charges, indictments, or known DOJ investigations against Newsom personally during tenure. Former chief of staff Dana Williamson indicted on federal charges (Nov 2025) but Newsom not implicated. CAGOP filed FPPC complaints (home purchase, behested payments) — all resolved without criminal referral. No personal criminal exposure despite numerous political controversies.
Court Records; DOJ; FPPC Enforcement Records; CalMatters Nov 2025
3
Ethics complaints — substantiated
FPPC investigated multiple complaints: CAGOP complaint about $9.1M home purchase (cleared — no reportable gift). Behested payment late-filing investigation since 2021 — settled Nov 2024 with fine for late disclosure of 18 payments. Campaign committee fined for failing to timely report $1.12M in subvendor payments. No substantiated corruption or bribery complaints. Violations were procedural/timing — not substantive ethics breaches.
CA FPPC Stipulation Nov 2024; FPPC determination Aug 2021; FPPC Enforcement Records
3
Gift/travel disclosure
Annual gift and travel disclosures filed with FPPC as required. However, settled with FPPC for late filing of 18 behested payment reports — donations made by companies on his behalf were not reported within the required 30-day window. All reports eventually filed before FPPC enforcement contact. Travel disclosures include China trip (Oct 2023, week-long visit meeting Xi Jinping), Israel visit, and domestic political travel.
CA FPPC Gift/Travel Disclosure Filings; FPPC Stipulation Nov 2024; Governor's Office travel records
2
Conflict of interest
Plumpjack Group (Newsom's wine/hospitality business) raised conflict questions during COVID reopening decisions affecting restaurants/wineries. Did not formally recuse from policies directly affecting his industry. Placed business in blind trust but questions remained.
CA FPPC; Plumpjack Group LLC Records; COVID Reopening Executive Orders
1
State resources for political purposes
No documented diversion of state staff, facilities, or equipment for campaign use. However, critics noted blurred lines between gubernatorial duties and national political positioning — podcast launch, out-of-state travel, and China trip (Oct 2023) occurred while state faced $68B deficit and 2025 LA wildfire crisis. May 2025 poll: 2x more voters said Newsom devoted more attention to national profile than state problems. No FPPC enforcement action on state resource misuse.
CA FPPC Records; CalMatters 2025 analysis; public polling data
3
Truthfulness in official statements
FRENCH LAUNDRY INCIDENT (Nov 6, 2020): Attended indoor dinner at French Laundry restaurant with lobbyist group while telling Californians to avoid indoor gatherings and cancel Thanksgiving plans. Initially claimed it was outdoors — photos proved otherwise. Violated his own executive orders. Not a lie to Congress but public deception about following his own COVID rules.
French Laundry dinner photos (SFGATE Nov 2020); Governor's COVID Executive Order N-33-20; Governor's public statements Nov 2020
1
Protection of ethics infrastructure
FPPC maintained operational independence and enforcement authority throughout tenure. Did not attempt to weaken Political Reform Act or reduce FPPC budget. FPPC continued to investigate and levy fines (including against Newsom's own committee). FPPC published quarterly enforcement updates covering conflict of interest, revolving door, and disclosure violations. However, CalMatters (Oct 2024) reported FPPC enforcement backlogs leave many campaign finance cases unresolved for years.
CA FPPC Budget Records; FPPC Quarterly Enforcement Updates 2025; CalMatters Oct 2024
2
Emoluments/self-dealing
Placed PlumpJack Group (wine/hospitality empire) into blind trust before inauguration. However, PlumpJack businesses received ~$3M in PPP loans during COVID while Newsom set restaurant/winery reopening policies. $9.1M Marin home purchased through LLC — FPPC investigated CAGOP complaint but cleared it (funds from Newsom/family members). Silicon Valley Bank collapse (March 2023): Assembly/Senate leaders called on Newsom to recuse himself due to personal wine industry accounts at SVB. No formal self-dealing findings.
CA FPPC Financial Disclosures; SBA PPP data; FPPC determination 2021; SVB coverage March 2023
3
Campaign donor to state contract pipeline
BYD $1B mask contract raised questions — though awarded through emergency procurement, not directly to a campaign donor. Some concerns about relationship between political connections and appointments.
CA FPPC Campaign Finance Records; DGS Procurement Records
1
Foreign influence
No FARA registrations or foreign influence investigations. Week-long China trip (Oct 2023) met President Xi Jinping, toured factories, signed climate cooperation agreement — first US governor to visit China in 4+ years. Critics called it 'shadow presidential campaign' or 'propaganda opportunity,' but trip followed bipartisan tradition (Brown, Schwarzenegger). No evidence of improper foreign financial ties. PlumpJack wine business has international sales but no documented foreign government connections.
DOJ FARA Database; Governor's Office China Trip Report Oct 2023; Carnegie Endowment analysis
3
Sexual harassment claims
No sexual harassment claims against Newsom personally or his immediate governor's office staff. However, Newsom appointee Cal OES Deputy Director Ryan Buras (appointed 2019) faced lawsuit alleging year-long sexual harassment campaign against senior coordinator Kendra Bowyer — four other women had previously raised similar allegations in 2019 that were reported to agency management. Additionally, attorney at Dept. of Fair Employment and Housing resigned alleging governor's office interfered with Activision Blizzard sexual harassment lawsuit.
CalHR Records; Bowyer v. Cal OES; DFEH/Activision resignation letter 2022
3
Records preservation
No documented intentional records destruction or spoliation. State Records Management Act (Gov. Code §12270-12279) maintained throughout tenure. Secretary of State's Records Management and Appraisal program continued operating. However, governor's office was slow to provide records for EDD audit, and calendar release delays (5+ months in 2025) raise questions about timely records availability. No whistleblower allegations of document destruction.
CA State Archives Records Retention; Gov. Code §12270-12279; Secretary of State RMA Program
3
Revolving door
CA has one-year lobbying ban and permanent 'switching sides' ban for former state officials under Political Reform Act. FPPC publishes quarterly revolving door enforcement updates. No major violations linked directly to Newsom administration appointees. CA lobbying expenditures hit record $540M (2024), creating substantial revolving door pressure. FPPC enforced multiple revolving door cases statewide in 2025 quarterly reports but none involved governor's senior staff.
CA FPPC Revolving Door Quarterly Updates 2025; Political Reform Act; FPPC Enforcement Records
3
Fraud losses in state programs
$20B-$31B in EDD unemployment fraud during 2020-2021. LARGEST STATE-LEVEL UI FRAUD IN US HISTORY. DOL OIG found CA accounted for largest share of national pandemic UI fraud. 350,000+ fraudulent claims identified by Bank of America BEFORE EDD detected any. International fraud rings, organized crime, and prison inmates all successfully defrauded CA.
DOL OIG Report 19-22-004-03-315; CA State Auditor Report 2021-116; Bank of America/EDD debit card fraud data
0
Program integrity — eligibility verification
EDD had NO cross-referencing with: (1) CDCR — 35,000+ claims from inmates, (2) SSA death records — paid deceased individuals, (3) other states — same SSNs claimed in multiple states, (4) address verification — hundreds of claims from single addresses. State Auditor: 'EDD did not have a process to verify the identity of claimants.'
CA State Auditor Report 2021-116; DOL OIG; Sacramento Bee investigation
0
IT system modernization
EDD's IT system ran on COBOL from the 1980s. System crashed repeatedly during pandemic surge. Couldn't process volume. Couldn't detect fraud. $1B+ modernization project started but decades overdue. Legitimate claimants waited months for payments while fraudsters were paid immediately.
CA State Auditor IT Reports; EDD UI Modernization Project Status; EDD Strike Team Report July 2020
0
Permit processing timeliness
Housing permit processing among slowest in nation. CEQA reviews take years. Business permits backlogged.
CA HCD Annual Progress Reports; Census Building Permits Data
1
Child welfare system
2024 federal CFSR Round 4 found CA NOT in substantial conformity with Safety Outcome 1 — maltreatment in foster care rate statistically worse than national standard. Significant racial disparities: Black children are 5% of CA child population but 15% of foster care entries and ~25% of maltreatment victims. Required to develop Program Improvement Plan. No catastrophic systemic failures but outcomes below federal benchmarks on key safety metrics.
ACF CFSR Round 4 Final Report — California 2024; CA DSS CWS Data
2
Medicaid program management
Medi-Cal expansion to all income-eligible adults including undocumented immigrants. Enrollment surged to 15M+ (1 in 3 Californians). CMS raised concerns about improper payments in managed care. Massive program scale creates oversight challenges.
CMS Medicaid Reviews — California; DHCS Medi-Cal Enrollment Data; CMS OIG Reports
1
Environmental program
CalEPA and EPA signed first-of-its-kind 5-year joint enforcement agreement (2021) targeting overburdened communities in LA, Fresno, Kern, Eastern Coachella Valley, and Bayview-Hunters Point. 2024/25 Environmental Justice Enforcement Action Plan expanded rapid response task forces. CA Air Resources Board maintains CAA waiver for vehicle emissions (granted Dec 2024 by EPA). Title V operating permits delegated to local air districts. Air quality improving but Central Valley and LA Basin still among worst AQI nationally.
EPA-CalEPA Joint Enforcement Agreement 2021; EPA EJ Action Plan 2024-25; CARB CAA waiver; EPA AQI Data
2
Transportation project delivery
HIGH-SPEED RAIL CATASTROPHE. Prop 1A (2008): voters approved $33B for SF-to-LA by 2020. Current reality: $128B+ estimate for full system, Bakersfield-to-Merced segment alone not before 2030s, and that's just 171 miles of the 520-mile route. Over 300% budget increase. 15+ years behind schedule. GAO and State Auditor both flagged mismanagement.
CHSRA 2024 Business Plan; Prop 1A Bond Act (2008); GAO Report GAO-24-106154; CA State Auditor Report 2018-108
0
Unemployment insurance system
EDD CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. During pandemic: (1) $20B+ stolen by fraudsters, (2) 1.5M legitimate claims stuck in backlog for months, (3) phone lines unreachable — 98% of calls dropped, (4) system crashed daily. Legitimate workers lost homes waiting for benefits while fraudsters were paid instantly. Governor's own Strike Team called EDD 'not designed to deal with' the volume.
EDD Strike Team Report July 2020; CA State Auditor Report 2021-116; DOL UI Performance Data — California
0
Veterans services
CalVet budget $663.6M (FY2023-24, up $116M). Accredited reps filed 316K claims resulting in $687M in new/increased federal benefits for CA veterans. $38M mental health grant program for veteran families. Prop 1 Homekey+ program: $2.145B NOFA for permanent supportive housing — awarded $580.5M to 99 projects (5,190 units occupied by Oct 2025). Signed veteran consumer protection bill (Feb 2026) and veteran tax cut. Services functional and expanding, though VA federal funding cuts in 2025 created new challenges.
CalVet FY2023-24 Budget; CalVet Veterans Services Reports; HCD Homekey+ NOFA; Governor's Office Feb 2026
2
Housing program effectiveness
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS WORSENED. HUD Point-in-Time Count: 151,278 (2019) — 181,399 (2023) — estimated 187,000+ (2025). That's a 32%+ INCREASE despite $24B+ spent on homelessness programs. CA has ~28% of America's entire homeless population. Affordable housing production: ~8,000 units/year vs ~180,000 needed. Prop 1 ($6.4B bond) just starting.
HUD Annual Homeless Assessment Report 2019, 2023; CA Interagency Council on Homelessness; CA HCD Housing Element Reports
0
Corrections system
Federal receivership still in place for prison healthcare (since 2006 — not resolved under Newsom). Early releases during COVID. Prison overcrowding improved through population reduction but recidivism concerns.
Plata v. Newsom (federal receivership); CDCR Population Reports; BJS NPS — California
1
Federal funding captured
CA received ~$150B from American Rescue Plan across all programs ($27B state fiscal recovery, $15B ESSER III education, remainder through various federal programs). Also captured CARES Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding. Largest absolute state recipient but proportionate to 12% of US population. Aggressively pursued competitive grants for broadband, EV infrastructure, and high-speed rail. However, massive EDD fraud ($20-31B) resulted in federal funds stolen, partially offsetting capture success.
USASpending.gov — California; NCSL ARPA Allocations; Census Federal Aid to States; DOL OIG
2
Federal corrective action plans
DOL required corrective action on EDD fraud controls. Multiple federal reviews of state program integrity.
DOL OIG Corrective Action Records; USDA/CMS/DOL State Reviews
1
Interstate cooperation
Active in Pacific Coast Collaborative climate pact with Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia — signed renewed Statement of Cooperation (Oct 2022) for clean energy transition, EV charging stations every 50 miles on West Coast Electric Highway, and fossil fuel phase-out. Joined Western States Pact for coordinated COVID reopening (2020). Led multi-state coalition challenging federal policies on immigration, environment, and education under Trump 2.0. Interstate cooperation is extensive but largely ideologically aligned (blue-state coalitions).
Pacific Coast Collaborative SOC Oct 2022; Western States Pact; Governor's Office interstate agreements
2
Local government relations
Significant tensions with local governments over housing mandates (SB 9, SB 10 — preempting local zoning). Sued Huntington Beach over housing compliance. Homeless encampment executive orders preempted local discretion.
State v. City of Huntington Beach; SB 9/SB 10; Governor's Homeless EO 2024
1
Federal litigation costs
CA AG office spent tens of millions in federal litigation — sued federal government 120+ times under Trump 1.0, ongoing litigation under Trump 2.0 on immigration, environment, education. While some defensive, costs are massive.
CA AG Litigation Report; Budget Legal Line Items
1
Constituent inquiry response
Governor's constituent services office processes scheduling and inquiry requests — cannot accommodate all due to volume. No published response time metrics or constituent satisfaction data. Office maintains standard scheduling request form (govapps.gov.ca.gov). COVID-era shift to virtual engagement expanded accessibility but post-pandemic in-person constituent access remains limited. 2025 focus shifted to wildfire recovery constituent services for LA residents.
Governor's Office Scheduling Portal; Governor's Office constituent services operations
3
Town halls held
Limited direct town halls. More media appearances and press conferences than constituent events.
Governor's Office Schedule
1
Constituent satisfaction
Satisfaction low — high cost of living, homelessness crisis, crime concerns. Recall attempt reached ballot (first CA governor recall in 18 years). Morning Consult approval dropped to low 40s.
Morning Consult Governor Approval Raw Data; CA Secretary of State Recall Records
1
ADA compliance
CA has state-level ADA protections beyond federal requirements: AB 434 requires all state agency websites to meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA accessibility standards. California Disabled Persons Act (CDPA) provides additional protections. State preparing for DOJ Title II digital accessibility rule (April 2026 compliance deadline for entities over 50K population). Department of Rehabilitation maintained throughout tenure. No documented systemic ADA noncompliance at state level, though individual agency complaints exist.
CA AB 434; CDPA; DOJ Title II Web Accessibility Rule (April 2024); CA Department of Rehabilitation
3
Electoral accountability
Survived recall election September 2021 (62% No on recall). Won reelection November 2022 with 59.2%. Term-limited for 2026.
CA Secretary of State — 2021 Recall Election Results; 2022 General Election Results
2

Section B — State Outcomes 255/975

13 categories measuring real-world outcomes: economic performance, population trends, fiscal health, public safety, education, healthcare, infrastructure, cost of living, transparency, controversy, historical context, constituent satisfaction, and immigration compliance.

BEA SAGDP: CA GDP $4.0T (world's 5th largest economy). BUT: BLS LAUS unemployment 5.3% (2024, well above national 3.7%). BLS QCEW: lost 10,000+ restaurant jobs after $20/hr fast-food minimum wage. Census ACS median household income $91,905 (high but cost-adjusted purchasing power below average — SPM poverty rate 15.1%, HIGHEST in nation). Business departures: Tesla, Oracle, HP Enterprise, Charles Schwab, Palantir moved HQ out of CA.
Census 2025: CA population 39,529,000 — grew just 0.05% (19,200 people) in 2024-2025. Net domestic outmigration -216,000 (2024-2025) — consistent with 2018-2019 levels. Offset only by international immigration +260,000 (highest since 2018) and natural increase +108,300. Net domestic outmigration every year: -261K (2020), -367K (2021), -340K (2022), -233K (2023), -216K (2025). IRS SOI: CA lost $29.1B in adjusted gross income to outmigration. Top destinations: TX, AZ, FL. Major HQ departures: Tesla, Oracle, HP Enterprise, Palantir, Charles Schwab, Snowflake, CBRE. Demographics: 41% Latino, 34% white, 17% Asian/Pacific Islander, 5% Black. Population loss unprecedented in CA history before Newsom.
From $97.5B surplus projection to $68B cumulative deficit in 2 years. New spending programs enacted during surplus now unfunded. BSA being drawn down. Pension: CalPERS 72%, CalSTRS 73% — $400B+ combined unfunded. Debt per capita ~$3,700 (among highest). Credit: AA- (below most large states). Only bright spot: BSA built to $22B before drawdown.
FBI UCR/NIBRS 2024: CA violent crime fell 6%, homicide rate dropped 10.4%. Property crime rate fell to 2,082.7/100K — historic low (from 2,272.7 in 2023). Crime declining BEFORE Prop 36 took effect (Nov 2024). But context: CA violent crime rate 434-494.7-466/100K (2019-2022) — all above national ~359. Drug overdose deaths MORE THAN DOUBLED: 4,728 (2019) to 11,074 (2022) per CDC WONDER. Organized retail theft: Walgreens, Target closed SF locations. Car theft 2nd highest nationally. 2020 wildfire season: 33 deaths, 4.2M acres. 2025 LA fires: 29+ deaths. Prop 36 passed 70% to reverse Prop 47 — Newsom OPPOSED it. Property crime fell 10% in decade since Prop 47 but public perception remained negative.
NAEP 2022: 4th grade math 230 (BELOW national 235), 8th grade math 271 (below national 274), 8th grade reading 254 (below national 260). CA LARGER-THAN-AVERAGE score declines 2019—2022 — attributed to longest school closures in nation (~60+ weeks). Per-pupil: $17K-18K (middle third nationally, BOTTOM third cost-adjusted). HS graduation 83.5% (declining). Achievement gaps widened dramatically during closures.
Census ACS uninsured rate 6.8% (improved with Medi-Cal expansion). CDC: life expectancy 79.0 (near national avg). Infant mortality 4.2/1K (below national 5.4 — good). Medi-Cal covers 15M+ Californians. But: mental health crisis worsening, overdose deaths 10K+/year, Medi-Cal provider shortages in rural areas.
FHWA NBI: 8.1% bridges structurally deficient (above national 7.5%). Roads: 33% in poor condition (among worst). High-speed rail: 300%+ over budget, decades behind. Grid: rolling blackouts 2020. Broadband: 93% coverage (good). Water: aging infrastructure, drought stress. PG&E wildfire liability ongoing.
BEA RPP: 113-115 (prices 13-15% above national; housing 50-60% above). BLS CPI: cumulative CA inflation ~26-28% (2019-2024) vs national ~22-23%. Gas: peaked $6.44/gallon (June 2022); avg $4.70-5.00 (2024) vs national $3.30-3.50 — HIGHEST in contiguous US. Median home: $850K+ (2024) vs national $320K. Rent burden: 49-50% of renters spend >30% on rent (among worst nationally). Housing production: 110K-120K units/yr vs 310K needed.
CA Public Records Act compliance slow — First Amendment Coalition documented multi-month delays. Governor's calendar not released for 5+ months (CalMatters Sept 2025). Sacramento Superior Court ordered disclosure of PG&E meeting records after ABC10 lawsuit. COVID emergency procurement transparency gaps — $1B BYD mask contract had limited public disclosure initially. BUT: robust lobbying disclosure (record $540M in lobbying expenditures in 2024, all disclosed via Cal-Access). Open data portals: data.ca.gov and Open FI$Cal (open.fiscal.ca.gov). ebudget.ca.gov provides searchable budget. SB 707 (signed Oct 2025) strengthened Brown Act public participation. FPPC enforcement backlogs leave campaign finance cases unresolved for years (CalMatters Oct 2024).
$20B-$31B EDD fraud (largest UI fraud in US history). French Laundry hypocrisy (Nov 2020). Recall election reached ballot with 1.7M signatures. $68B+ budget deficit whiplash. Homelessness increased 24% despite $24B spent. Rolling blackouts (2020). High-speed rail: $33B—$128B+ cost explosion. Business exodus (Tesla, Oracle, HPE, etc). Unprecedented population loss. 2025 LA fires: 29+ deaths, 16K structures, fire hydrants dry. Prop 36 repudiation of his criminal justice approach.
Against CA's own governors: budget deficit among worst ever ($68B+ cumulative, rivaling Schwarzenegger's 2009 Great Recession crisis). Population LOSS unprecedented in CA history — never happened before Newsom. EDD fraud ($20-31B) worst in US history — no predecessor experienced comparable fraud. Homelessness at record highs: 151,278 (2019) to 187,000+ (2025), +32% increase despite $24B+ spent (State Auditor 2023-102: 'lacks data to assess effectiveness'). Cost of living at record levels (RPP 113-115). French Laundry incident (Nov 2020) unique in CA governor history for hypocrisy scale. Recall reached ballot — first since Gray Davis (2003). By historical standards, among worst-performing governors in CA's 175-year statehood.
Survived recall 62-38 (2021). Won reelection 59.2% (2022). But: approval declined through tenure. Recall reaching ballot is itself extraordinary. Morning Consult approval dropped to low 40s by 2024. 'Right direction' numbers for CA among lowest nationally. Net domestic outmigration = people voting with their feet.
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Section C — Oath Fidelity -144 (-378 to +378)

126 items scored -3 to +3 measuring fidelity to constitutional oath. Grounded in Supreme Court precedent and constitutional text.

+3Exemplary +2Strong +1Adequate 0Neutral -1Concerning -2Failing -3Hostile

Protection of Life

Declaration of Independence; 5th/14th Amendments
Score: -19 Range: -93 to 93 Items: 31
Violent crime rate trend
CA violent crime rate ~442 per 100K (2023), above national average. Rate increased from ~434 (2019) to ~500 (2022) then modestly declined. Prop 47 retail theft impacts perception. Sanctuary catch-and-release of violent criminal aliens documented.
FBI UCR; CA DOJ crime stats
-1
Homicide rate relative to national average
CA homicide rate approximately 6.0 per 100K (2023), near national average. LA and Oakland drive much of homicide count. Within 15% of national average.
FBI UCR; CDC WONDER
0
Homicide clearance rate
CA homicide clearance rate approximately 40-45%, below national average. Major city PDs (LAPD, Oakland) have declining clearance rates due to staffing constraints.
FBI UCR; LAPD; CA DOJ
-1
Homicide staffing adequacy
CA law enforcement facing severe recruitment crisis. LAPD below 9,000 (from 10,000+ authorized). Oakland PD critically understaffed. CHP adequate but city PDs in crisis. Prop 47/57 and anti-police sentiment drove attrition.
FBI LEOKA; LAPD staffing; CA POST
-2
Drug overdose death rate trend
CA drug overdose death rate approximately 28 per 100K and rising. Fentanyl deaths surged. Open drug markets in SF, LA. Treatment investment exists but outcomes worsening. Border proximity contributes to supply.
CDC WONDER; CA DHCS; SF overdose data
-2
Emergency management preparedness
Cal OES among best-resourced state emergency agencies. Wildfire preparedness extensive. CAL FIRE well-funded. Earthquake preparedness strong. Good for diverse hazard profile.
FEMA SPR; Cal OES; CAL FIRE
+1
Preventable mass-casualty event response
Multiple wildfire events during Newsom tenure. Mosquito Fire (2022), Thompson Fire (2024). Dixie Fire (2021) — second largest in CA history. Response generally adequate but prevention (forest management, PG&E oversight) remains deficient. Camp Fire (2018) accountability incomplete.
CAL FIRE; CPUC; after-action reports
-1
Infrastructure safety — bridge and road conditions
CA structurally deficient bridges approximately 5-6%, below national average. Road conditions mixed — ~30% poor (high nationally but large system). Caltrans investing via SB 1. Average overall given system scale.
FHWA NBI; ASCE CA; Caltrans
0
Water and dam safety compliance
CA faces chronic water scarcity. Oroville Dam spillway failure (2017, pre-Newsom) exposed dam safety concerns. Ongoing drought management challenges. Some drinking water contamination in Central Valley agricultural communities. PFAS contamination at military bases.
EPA SDWIS; DWR Dam Safety; SWRCB
-1
Healthcare access — uninsured rate
CA uninsured rate approximately 6.5% (2023 ACS). Covered California marketplace. Medi-Cal expansion to all income-eligible residents regardless of immigration status. Good access.
Census ACS; KFF; Covered California
+1
Maternal mortality rate
CA maternal mortality rate approximately 10-12 per 100K live births — below national average. CA Maternal Quality Care Collaborative is national model. Strong outcomes.
CDC WONDER; CA MQCC; DHCS
+1
Infant mortality rate
CA infant mortality rate approximately 4.0 per 1,000, below national average. Strong neonatal care infrastructure. Good outcomes.
CDC WONDER; NCHS
+2
Self-defense rights — Castle Doctrine / Stand Your Ground
CA has Castle Doctrine (Penal Code 198.5 — presumption of reasonable fear for home intruders). No Stand Your Ground. No duty to retreat in home. Duty to retreat outside in practice. Moderate framework.
CA Penal Code 198.5; NRA-ILA
0
Death penalty procedural safeguards
CA has death penalty on books but Newsom issued moratorium (2019). 700+ on death row but no executions. Moratorium raises due process questions for victims. Ambiguous status. Not formally abolished.
CA death penalty moratorium; Death Penalty Information Center
0
Suicide prevention program funding and outcomes
CA suicide rate approximately 10 per 100K, below national average. Funded programs. 988 integration. Average to good outcomes. CalHOPE program provides crisis support.
CDC WISQARS; AFSP CA; CalHOPE
0
911/emergency response time adequacy
CA EMS response adequate in metro areas. Rural and wildfire-affected areas face challenges. NFPA compliance varies by jurisdiction. Average statewide.
NFPA; CA EMSA
0
Opioid/fentanyl interdiction and treatment funding
CA has opioid response framework but fentanyl deaths rising rapidly. Open drug markets in SF/LA. Treatment capacity expanding but outcomes worsening. Border proximity critical factor.
SAMHSA; CA DHCS; CDC WONDER
-1
Veteran suicide and healthcare access
CA CalVet provides funded services. Multiple VA medical centers. Good veteran health infrastructure. Veteran homelessness elevated in absolute numbers but programs active.
VA SAIL; CalVet; HUD PIT
+1
Food safety and foodborne illness enforcement
CA food safety strong. CDFA and county health departments have rigorous inspection programs. No major outbreaks linked to state inspection failures. Strong program.
FDA Conformance; CDFA; county health departments
+1
Workplace fatality rate
CA workplace fatality rate approximately 2.5-3.0 per 100K FTE — below national average. Service-economy dominant. Cal/OSHA enforcement strong.
BLS CFOI; Cal/OSHA
+1
Domestic violence fatality rate and funding
CA has DV fatality review. Partnership to End DV receives state funding. Large system. DV rates near national average. Average framework for scale.
CA Partnership to End DV; NNEDV
0
Correctional facility death rate and conditions
CA CDCR under various court oversight. In-custody death rates above average. Overcrowding historically severe (Brown v. Plata court-ordered population reduction). COVID deaths in prisons significant. San Quentin COVID outbreak killed 28 inmates.
BJS; CDCR; Brown v. Plata; court oversight
-2
Pollution-related mortality and environmental health
CA has significant air quality nonattainment areas — San Joaquin Valley and LA Basin among worst in nation. Despite aggressive climate policies, ground-level ozone and particulate matter remain problematic. Environmental justice communities disproportionately affected.
EPA Green Book; CARB; EPA Superfund
-1
Pedestrian and traffic fatality rate
CA traffic fatality rate approximately 1.3-1.4 per 100M VMT, slightly above national average. Pedestrian fatalities increasing. Urban areas particularly affected. Vision Zero not meeting targets.
NHTSA FARS; Caltrans
-1
Sanctity of life legislative framework
Newsom signed Prop 1 (2022 constitutional amendment) enshrining abortion rights in CA constitution. No gestational limits. No clinic safety regulations. State funds abortion and travel assistance post-Dobbs. Newsom personally promoted CA as abortion destination via billboards in other states. Among most aggressive expansion nationally.
CA Prop 1; Guttmacher; Dobbs v. Jackson (2022); Newsom billboards
-3
Homeless mortality — exposure deaths, overdoses in encampments, violence
California's homeless population is the largest in the nation (~180K+). Thousands of overdose deaths and exposure deaths in encampments annually. Newsom spent $24B+ over 5 years but a state audit found outcomes were not tracked.
CA State Auditor Report April 2024; CalMatters homelessness spending audit
-2
Population loss impact on services — EMS/hospital closures, tax base erosion
California lost 1.46 million net domestic migrants 2020-2024. Rural hospital closures increasing. EMS response times worsening in depopulating inland counties.
CA Dept of Finance E-2 population estimates; Census domestic migration data
-1
Police staffing/funding — governor's direct actions on law enforcement
Newsom signed sweeping police reform bills including SB 2 which eliminated qualified immunity for police and created decertification authority. Police staffing crises in LAPD (-2,000 officers).
SB 2 (2021); LAPD staffing reports
-2
Criminal recidivism from early release — parole/clemency, no-cash-bail
COVID early release program freed ~14,800 prisoners; ~31% returned to prison within 3 years. Newsom has granted 247 pardons, 160 commutations since 2019.
CalMatters prison release data May 2025; CDCR recidivism reports
-2
Prison/shelter housing — biological males in women's facilities
Newsom signed SB 132 requiring CDCR to house transgender inmates based on gender identity preference, not biological sex. Biological males can be housed in women's prisons.
SB 132 (2020); CDCR implementation data
-3
Mental health crisis system — involuntary commitment reform, crisis intervention
CARE Court signed by Newsom in 2022 allows court-ordered treatment — a positive step. However, implementation has been slow and limited. Thousands of severely mentally ill remain on streets.
CARE Act (SB 1338, 2022); CA DHCS implementation data
-1

Constitutional Rights

Bill of Rights (Amendments I-X); 14th Amendment incorporation
Score: -43 Range: -87 to 87 Items: 29
Second Amendment — right to carry status
CA enacted SB 2 (2023) post-Bruen imposing extensive 'sensitive places' restrictions — similar to NY CCIA. Effectively bans carry in most public locations. Federal courts have blocked some provisions. De facto defiance of Bruen ruling.
CA SB 2 (2023); NYSRPA v. Bruen; federal injunctions; May v. Bonta
-3
Second Amendment — semi-automatic rifle restrictions
CA has nation's most comprehensive assault weapons ban. Bans by name, feature, and type. Criminal penalties for possession. Roster of approved handguns severely limits market. Registration required for all firearms.
CA Penal Code 30500 et seq.; Roberti-Roos; CA DOJ roster
-3
Second Amendment — magazine capacity restrictions
CA imposed 10-round magazine limit. Confiscation of existing magazines was enjoined by federal courts (Duncan v. Bonta — en banc reversal). Criminal penalties for possession. Among most restrictive.
CA Penal Code 32310; Duncan v. Bonta
-3
Second Amendment — Red Flag / ERPO due process
CA GVRO (Gun Violence Restraining Order) — broadest ERPO in nation. Employers, coworkers, teachers can petition. Ex parte orders. Extended seizure period. No appointed counsel. Low evidence standard. Minimal due process.
CA Penal Code 18100-18205; GVRO data
-2
First Amendment — campus free speech protections
CA has no comprehensive campus free speech statute. UC/CSU systems have had multiple documented suppression incidents. Mandatory DEI statements required for faculty hiring. FIRE gives CA schools mixed to below-average ratings.
FIRE; UC DEI hiring; CA legislation
-1
First Amendment — anti-SLAPP protections
CA has one of strongest anti-SLAPP statutes in nation (CCP 425.16). Comprehensive coverage. Expedited dismissal. Fee-shifting. National model for anti-SLAPP protection.
CCP 425.16; Public Participation Project
+2
First Amendment — religious liberty protections
CA has no state RFRA. COVID-era church restrictions among strictest — complete indoor worship ban for months. SCOTUS ruled against CA twice (South Bay v. Newsom, Tandon v. Newsom). Documented state hostility to religious exercise.
South Bay v. Newsom; Tandon v. Newsom; COVID orders; Becket Fund
-2
Fourth Amendment — warrant requirements for digital surveillance
CA enacted CalECPA (Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 2015) — requires warrant for electronic communications. Above federal baseline. Among better state electronic privacy protections.
CA Penal Code 1546; CalECPA; EFF
+1
Fourth Amendment — civil asset forfeiture reform
CA enacted forfeiture reform (SB 443, 2016) requiring criminal conviction for forfeitures under $40K. Above-average protections. Limited federal equitable sharing.
CA SB 443; Institute for Justice
+1
Fifth Amendment — eminent domain protections post-Kelo
CA has moderate eminent domain protections. Redevelopment agencies dissolved (2012) reduced some taking risk. Standard just compensation. Average Kelo reform.
CA Constitution; Castle Coalition
0
Due process — regulatory takings and permitting timelines
CA has highest regulatory burden in nation. CEQA (environmental review) routinely delays projects 3-7 years. Housing permitting among slowest nationally. Systematic delays used as de facto regulation. CEQA reform limited.
CEQA; Mercatus RegData; CA permitting data
-2
Tenth Amendment — federal overreach resistance
Newsom acquiesces to federal authority expansion while simultaneously resisting federal immigration enforcement — contradictory posture. No state sovereignty pushback on overreach.
Governor's executive orders; litigation
-1
Equal Protection — state contracting nondiscrimination
CA maintains extensive race-conscious programs despite Prop 209 (1996 ban on racial preferences). Some workarounds through supplier diversity. SFFA compliance ambiguous.
CA Prop 209; supplier diversity; procurement data
-1
Second Amendment — state preemption of local firearms laws
CA has limited preemption allowing localities to impose additional restrictions. LA, SF, Oakland and others have enacted measures beyond state law. Extreme patchwork of local gun restrictions.
CA preemption; local ordinances; NRA-ILA
-2
First Amendment — government transparency and FOIA compliance
CA Public Records Act compliance has documented issues. Governor's office response times frequently exceed statutory deadlines. Some documented obstruction. CPRA reforms enacted but enforcement weak.
CA CPRA; RCFP; First Amendment Coalition audits
-1
Sixth Amendment — public defender funding adequacy
CA public defender caseloads above recommended maximums in many counties. Chronic underfunding in some jurisdictions. LA Public Defender among largest in nation but still overwhelmed. Some improvements via budget increases.
Sixth Amendment Center; CA public defender offices
-1
Eighth Amendment — bail reform and pretrial detention
CA SB 10 (bail reform) was passed but overturned by voters (Prop 25, 2020). Current system uses some risk-based assessment with cash bail still available. Moderate system.
SB 10; Prop 25; Pretrial Justice Institute
0
Property rights — regulatory burden and economic freedom
CA ranks #1 in nation for regulatory burden. CEQA, housing regulations, environmental restrictions, labor laws create extreme burden. Businesses and residents leaving state. No meaningful reform under Newsom.
Mercatus RegData; Cato; Tax Foundation; CA outmigration data
-3
Second Amendment — governor's litigation posture on firearms cases
CA AG Rob Bonta among most aggressive anti-2A litigators. Leads defense of assault weapons ban, magazine ban, SB 2. Files amicus briefs opposing 2A rights. Newsom proposed 28th Amendment to restrict 2A. Most hostile 2A litigation environment in nation.
AG litigation; 28th Amendment proposal; amicus filings
-3
First Amendment — compelled speech protections
CA has extensive compelled speech requirements. Mandatory DEI training for professionals. AB 2098 (COVID 'misinformation' law for doctors, later enjoined by federal court). Pronoun policies in government/schools. Court finding of First Amendment violation.
AB 2098; DEI mandates; Hoeg v. Newsom; school policies
-2
Commerce Clause compliance — interstate trade barriers
CA has significant interstate commerce barriers. Prop 12 (pork industry standards) litigated to SCOTUS (National Pork Producers v. Ross). Extensive California-only product standards create trade friction.
Prop 12; National Pork Producers v. Ross; CARB
-1
Privileges and Immunities — occupational licensing reform
CA has among highest occupational licensing burden. 177+ licensed occupations. Limited reform. Some military spouse provisions. Licensing expanding not contracting.
IJ License to Work; NCSL; DCA
-1
Contract Clause — state compliance with contractual obligations
CalPERS funded ratio approximately 68-72%. CalSTRS approximately 72%. Making required contributions but systems still significantly underfunded. $160B+ combined unfunded liability. Bond ratings AA-/Aa2.
Pew pension; CalPERS/CalSTRS CAFRs; bond ratings
-1
Jury trial rights — civil and criminal jury access
CA has standard jury trial access. Some COVID-era backlog. Large court system generally accessible. Average.
CA Judicial Council reports; NCSC
0
Immigration law compliance — Supremacy Clause adherence
CA is the model sanctuary state. SB 54 (California Values Act, 2017) broadly prohibits state/local ICE cooperation. Catch-and-release of violent criminal aliens as documented policy. $30B+ in state services to illegal alien population. In-state tuition. Driver's licenses. Medi-Cal expansion to all regardless of immigration status. Active obstruction of federal enforcement. Criminal penalties for employers cooperating with ICE (AB 450).
SB 54; AB 450; 8 USC 1373; FAIR; Medi-Cal expansion; state spending data
-3
Qualified immunity / due process for officers
Newsom signed SB 2 eliminating qualified immunity for California police officers — one of only three states to do so.
SB 2 (2021); CA POST decertification data
-3
Voter ID and ballot chain-of-custody
Newsom signed a bill banning voter ID requirements statewide. Blocked Huntington Beach's voter ID ordinance. California allows ballot harvesting with minimal restrictions.
AB 1779 (voter ID ban); CA Elections Code
-3
Non-citizen voting prevention
California is a sanctuary state under SB 54. No state-level effort to verify citizenship for voter registration beyond federal minimums. Non-citizens can vote in SF school board elections.
SB 54; SF non-citizen voting ordinance
-3
Women's sports / Title IX — biological sex protections in state-funded athletics
California state law allows transgender athletes to compete based on gender identity, not biological sex. Federal DOJ sued California in July 2025.
CA Education Code; DOJ lawsuit July 2025
-2

Child Welfare & Parental Rights

Meyer v. Nebraska; Pierce v. Society of Sisters; Troxel v. Granville; 14th Amendment
Score: -20 Range: -75 to 75 Items: 25
Parental rights legislation — statutory recognition
CA has no Parental Bill of Rights. AB 1955 (SAFETY Act, 2024) specifically prohibits schools from notifying parents about student gender identity changes. Active legislation against parental rights.
CA AB 1955; CA legislation
-2
Education choice — school choice programs
CA has no ESA/voucher. Charter schools exist but under increasing restriction. AB 1505 (2019) gave districts more power to deny charter applications. Union opposition to choice backed by Newsom. Choice options diminishing.
EdChoice CA; AB 1505; NAPCS
-2
Parental notification/consent for medical procedures on minors
CA allows minors to consent to reproductive health, mental health, substance abuse treatment, and gender-affirming care without parental notification. AB 1955 prohibits schools from notifying parents of student gender transition. Most aggressive concealment from parents in nation.
CA minor consent statutes; AB 1955; Guttmacher
-3
Gender-transition procedures for minors — restrictions
CA has no restrictions on gender-transition procedures for minors. Medi-Cal covers all procedures. SB 107 (2022) makes CA a 'refuge' state. AB 1955 prohibits parental notification at schools. Active recruitment of out-of-state minors. Most aggressive facilitation in nation.
SB 107; AB 1955; Medi-Cal; CA legislation
-3
Child abuse and neglect — substantiated case rate trend
CA child maltreatment rate near national average. Large system with variable quality by county. No significant trend change.
ACF NCANDS; CA DSS
0
Foster care — CFSR conformity assessment
CA CFSR results below average for large-state system. Conformity on approximately 3 of 7 outcomes. County-administered system creates extreme variability. Ongoing improvement plan.
ACF CFSR; CA DSS
-1
Foster care — permanency outcomes
CA foster care permanency outcomes below national average. Long time to permanency. High percentage of children in care 2+ years. Large system, variable county performance.
ACF AFCARS; CA DSS
-1
Child trafficking prevention and prosecution
CA has comprehensive trafficking statute. AG and ICAC active. LA/SF are major trafficking hubs with active enforcement. Safe harbor. Good prosecution framework.
Polaris; Shared Hope; CA AG
+1
Education outcomes — 4th grade NAEP reading proficiency
CA 4th grade NAEP reading proficiency approximately 27% at or above proficient (2022) — below national average of 32%. Large achievement gaps by race/income.
NCES NAEP 2022
-1
Education outcomes — 8th grade NAEP math proficiency
CA 8th grade NAEP math proficiency approximately 24% at or above proficient (2022) — below national average of 26%. Extended school closures during COVID particularly harmful.
NCES NAEP 2022
-1
Parental curriculum transparency
AB 1955 (SAFETY Act) specifically prohibits schools from notifying parents about student gender identity. CA Framework for sex education implemented without meaningful opt-out in some districts. Active concealment of student information from parents. Documented harm from concealment policies.
AB 1955; CA Framework; school district policies
-3
Social media — minor protections
CA enacted Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (AB 2273, 2022). Children's data protection. Among early adopter states but federal court injunction on some provisions (NetChoice v. Bonta).
AB 2273; NetChoice v. Bonta; NCSL
+1
Juvenile justice — age-appropriate treatment
CA closed DJJ (state juvenile prisons) in 2023 — shifted to county-level rehabilitation. Jurisdiction to 18. Rehabilitation-focused. Realignment approach innovative but implementation challenging.
DJJ closure; JJDPA; OJJDP CA
+1
Child poverty rate and state response
CA child poverty rate approximately 16-18% (when adjusted for cost of living via SPM, among highest in nation). Nominal rate masks extreme housing cost burden. Poverty persistent despite state investment.
Census ACS SAIPE; SPM data; KIDS COUNT
-1
Adoption and permanency — adoptive family support
CA adoption system large and complex. Processing times long. Faith-based agencies excluded from some functions. Foster-to-adopt pathway exists but barriers documented.
ACF AFCARS; CA DSS
-1
Homeschool rights and protections
CA allows homeschooling via private school affidavit (PSA) system. No mandatory testing. No curriculum mandates beyond required subjects. Moderate framework. Some districts create unnecessary barriers.
HSLDA CA; CA Education Code
0
Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) enforcement
CA ICAC task force well-funded. AG and federal prosecutors active. LA/SF major prosecution hubs. Good enforcement framework.
ICAC; NCMEC; CA AG
+1
School safety — violence prevention and incident response
CA has some school safety programs. SRO presence varies by district. Some large districts have phased out SROs (LAUSD reduced). Average framework.
NASRO; CDE school safety
0
Children's mental health services access
CA school counselor ratio approximately 500:1, worse than average. Prop 63 (Mental Health Services Act) provides funding. Access improving but gaps remain, especially in rural/Central Valley.
ASCA; SAMHSA CA; MHSA
0
Childhood vaccination — parental choice protections
CA has medical exemptions only (SB 277, 2015 removed religious/philosophical exemptions). SB 276 (2019, signed by Newsom) requires state review of medical exemptions. Most restrictive parental choice environment in nation. Penalties for exemption claims.
SB 277; SB 276; NCSL; CDC
-3
Child care affordability and access
CA has child care subsidy programs. Costs extremely high (highest in nation in some areas). Waitlist significant. Programs exist but inadequate relative to extreme costs.
ACF CCDF; NWLC; CA DSS
0
Education — teacher quality and retention
CA teacher vacancy rates elevated (~8-10%). Salary competitive in some metro areas but below cost-of-living-adjusted needs. Retention below 85% in high-need districts. Emergency permits used extensively.
NCES; CDE workforce; NEA; CTC
-1
Child nutrition — food insecurity rate
CA child food insecurity approximately 14%, near national average. Universal free school meals enacted (2022). Good meal access in metro areas but Central Valley food deserts.
USDA ERS; Feeding America; CA universal meals
0
Custody and family court — due process in child removal
CA family courts have standard due process. Appointed counsel available. County-administered CPS means variable practices. Average protections.
CA Judicial Council; ABA
0
Children with disabilities — IDEA compliance
CA rated 'Needs Assistance' by OSEP for multiple years. Large system means significant variability. Some districts requiring intervention. Below average.
OSEP; IDEA Part B
-1

Faithful Discharge of Duties

Gubernatorial oath; Art. IV Sec. 4; state constitutional requirements
Score: -62 Range: -123 to 123 Items: 41
Budget balance — structural surplus/deficit
CA faces massive structural deficit. $45B+ shortfall FY2024-25. $68B deficit projected over FY2024-2026. Revenue collapsed after tech downturn. Historic surplus ($100B, 2022) spent on new programs creating structural commitments. Dramatic fiscal reversal.
CA DOF; LAO; NASBO
-2
State credit rating stability
CA holds Aa2 (Moody's), AA- (S&P, Fitch). Not AAA. Budget crisis threatens outlook. No downgrades yet but negative watch possible. Average for large state.
S&P; Moody's; Fitch
0
Rainy day / budget stabilization fund adequacy
CA rainy day fund approximately $22B (2024) — substantial in absolute terms but only ~10% relative to massive general fund. Prop 2 formula provides protection. Drawing down to address deficit.
CA DOF; NASBO; Pew rainy day
+1
Pension system funding responsibility
CalPERS approximately 68-72% funded. CalSTRS approximately 72%. $160B+ combined unfunded liability. Making required payments but systems still significantly underfunded. Long-term risk to state finances.
Pew pension; CalPERS/CalSTRS CAFRs
-1
State debt burden
CA has high debt per capita when pension/OPEB liabilities included. $170B+ bonded debt. Debt-to-GDP approximately 10-12%. Budget crisis adding borrowing pressure. Top quartile nationally.
Census; Moody's; CA State Treasurer
-2
Government efficiency — state employee headcount per capita
CA state workforce above national median per capita. Growing under Newsom with new agencies (climate, homelessness). Expanding government footprint.
Census Public Employment; BLS
-1
Inspector General / state auditor independence
CA State Auditor independent. Performance audits conducted. Newsom mixed responsiveness. EDD fraud exposed massive oversight failure. Some oversight gaps.
CA State Auditor; OSBIG; EDD audit
0
Ethics violations and personal scandals
French Laundry dinner (Nov 2020) — Newsom attended maskless dinner at luxury restaurant while imposing strict lockdown on citizens. Major hypocrisy scandal. Recall election triggered (failed). Wife's nonprofit financial entanglement allegations. Pattern of rules-for-thee-not-for-me.
French Laundry incident; recall; media reporting
-2
Executive order restraint
Newsom issued extensive COVID EOs — among most restrictive in nation. Beach closures, school closures, business shutdown orders. Multiple EOs challenged. Volume well above historical norms. Used EOs to effectively legislate.
CA Governor's EO database; COVID orders; court challenges
-2
Emergency powers — adherence to statutory limits
Newsom maintained COVID emergency for over 3 years (March 2020 — Feb 2023). Among longest emergency power exercises in nation. Used powers for school closures (among last to reopen), business shutdowns, mask mandates, vaccine mandates. Legislature deferred. French Laundry hypocrisy demonstrated personal disregard for own orders.
CA emergency statutes; COVID timeline; legislative records
-3
Legislative cooperation — veto override rate
Newsom works cooperatively with Democratic supermajority. Very few vetoes; virtually zero overrides. Highly productive legislative relationship.
CA Legislature records
+2
Judicial appointments — qualifications and process integrity
Newsom follows JNE Commission process. Appointees generally meet standards. Diverse appointments to state courts. No documented patronage.
JNE Commission; state bar
+1
Timely execution of laws — implementation of enacted legislation
Sanctuary policies (SB 54) constitute systematic non-enforcement of federal immigration law. Catch-and-release of violent criminal aliens documented. Death penalty moratorium is non-enforcement of enacted law. AB 450 criminalizes cooperation with federal enforcement. Most systematic non-enforcement of any state.
SB 54; AB 450; death penalty moratorium; ICE data
-3
Federal fund utilization — grant management
EDD (Employment Development Dept) pandemic fraud estimated at $30B+ — largest state government fraud in US history. Federal and state audits documented catastrophic failures. Prison inmates, out-of-state residents, and organized crime rings received benefits. Among worst federal fund management failures ever documented.
CA State Auditor EDD report; DOL; federal investigations
-3
Public approval as competence indicator
Newsom approval approximately 38-44% (PPIC, Morning Consult). Survived recall (2021) with 62% but approval declined. Polarizing figure. Below average approval.
Morning Consult; PPIC; recall results
-1
State IT security and data protection
CDT has CISO but EDD fraud exposed catastrophic IT security failures. Antiquated systems enabled $30B+ fraud. Some cybersecurity investment since but systemic weaknesses documented.
NASCIO; CDT; EDD IT audit
-1
Infrastructure spending — capital budget execution
Capital budget mixed. High-speed rail ($100B+ projected, decades behind schedule, dramatically over budget). SB 1 gas tax funding roads. ASCE grade C- for CA. Major projects chronically over budget.
ASCE CA; CAHSRA; Caltrans; SB 1
0
Disaster fund readiness
CA has substantial emergency fund. FEMA cost-share met. Strong reserves (rainy day fund) provide buffer. Wildfire preparedness extensive. Good for high-risk state.
FEMA; Cal OES; CA disaster fund
+1
Workforce development — unemployment system integrity
EDD paid $30B+ in fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims — worst in nation by massive margin. Prison inmates, organized crime, and out-of-state/country residents defrauded system. Antiquated IT, no identity verification, overwhelmed staff. Catastrophic failure of unemployment system integrity.
CA State Auditor; DOL; EDD fraud investigations
-3
Medicaid program integrity
Medi-Cal expanded to all residents regardless of immigration status — budget impact $6B+/year. Error rates above average. Budget routinely exceeds appropriation. System integrity challenged by scope expansion.
CMS PERM; DHCS; Medi-Cal expansion
-1
Election administration — constitutional compliance
CA does not require photo voter ID. Paper ballot trail. Post-election audits (risk-limiting). Same-day registration. Universal mail ballots. Voter roll maintenance questioned. Average administration.
EAC EAVS; Verified Voting; CA SOS
0
Transparency — state budget accessibility
CA has Open FI$Cal portal with spending data. Budget documents accessible. Controller's transparent financial system. Above average budget transparency.
Open FI$Cal; CA Controller; U.S. PIRG
+1
Intergovernmental cooperation — federal compliance balanced with sovereignty
SB 54 (California Values Act) systematically prevents federal immigration enforcement. AB 450 criminalizes employer cooperation with ICE. Catch-and-release of violent criminal aliens as state policy. Death penalty moratorium defies enacted law. Most systematic non-compliance of any state. Active federal obstruction.
SB 54; AB 450; sanctuary data; federal court records
-3
Gubernatorial succession and continuity planning
Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis confirmed. Clear succession. COOP plan exists. Adequate continuity.
CA Constitution; FEMA COOP
+1
Anti-corruption — state procurement integrity
EDD fraud exposed massive procurement/oversight failures. Some no-bid COVID contracts raised questions. High-speed rail cost overruns suggest procurement issues. Competitive bidding variable.
CA procurement; state auditor; HSR oversight
-1
Gas price burden — state gas taxes, refinery regulations, cap-and-trade
California has the highest gas prices in the nation — average $4.69/gallon. State gas tax is 61.2 cents/gallon (highest in US). Cap-and-trade adds ~15-20 cents.
AAA gas price data; CA Board of Equalization gas tax rates
-3
Energy affordability — residential electricity costs from state policy
California has 2nd highest residential electricity rates in nation at ~34.7 cents/kWh, nearly double the national average. Rates rose 39% between 2019-2025.
EIA State Electricity Profiles; CA LAO Report Jan 2025
-3
Energy policy competence — forced mandates without infrastructure readiness
California's 100% clean energy mandate by 2045 proceeding without adequate grid infrastructure. Rolling blackouts occurred in Aug 2020. EV mandate without charging infrastructure readiness.
SB 100; CAISO grid emergency declarations
-3
Property tax burden — effective rate vs national median
California's effective property tax rate is ~0.71%, below national median due to Prop 13 (1978, pre-Newsom).
CA Board of Equalization property tax data; Prop 13
0
Regulatory cost burden — permits, compliance costs per household/business
California has the highest regulatory burden in the nation. CA regulations cost ~$134B annually ($3,400+ per resident). AB 5 devastated gig economy workers.
Competitive Enterprise Institute; AB 5; CARB
-3
Unfunded mandates on municipalities
California imposes extensive unfunded mandates on municipalities — housing element requirements, mandated police reforms, environmental compliance costs.
League of California Cities reports; SB 35
-2
Cost of living trajectory — policy-driven affordability trend
California cost of living is among the highest in the nation. Median home price ~$785K, more than double national median.
BLS CPI; CA Association of Realtors
-3
Immigration fiscal burden — taxpayer cost of sanctuary/benefits policies
California is a sanctuary state (SB 54). Provides Medi-Cal to all income-eligible illegal immigrants. Estimated $31B+ spent on services for unauthorized immigrants annually.
SB 54; Medi-Cal expansion; FAIR fiscal cost estimates
-3
Homelessness spending accountability — spending vs measurable outcomes
California spent $24B+ on homelessness over 5 years with no consistent outcome tracking per state auditor. Newsom VETOED AB 2903 which would have required tracking.
CA State Auditor Report April 2024; AB 2903 veto
-3
Encampment enforcement — response to SCOTUS Grants Pass ruling
After Grants Pass ruling, Newsom issued executive order to clear encampments. However, this represents dramatic reversal from years of permissive policy.
Executive Order N-1-24; Governor's encampment task force Aug 2025
-1
Net domestic migration trend — people leaving vs arriving
California leads the nation in net domestic outmigration: lost 229,077 net domestic migrants in most recent year, 1.46 million 2020-2024.
Census Bureau population estimates; CA Dept of Finance
-3
Business exodus — corporate HQ and jobs relocating due to policy
Over 200 businesses have left California since 2019. Major departures include Charles Schwab, Oracle, Palantir, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Chevron, Tesla.
Hoover Institution business relocation tracker
-3
DA accountability — governor's power to remove rogue prosecutors
Newsom took NO action to remove LA County DA George Gascon despite over 98% of his own prosecutors supporting recall.
CA Constitution Art. V; Gascon recall attempts; ADDA survey
-3
Election infrastructure — ballot harvesting, drop box security, audit transparency
Newsom signed bill banning voter ID requirements. California allows unlimited third-party ballot harvesting with minimal chain-of-custody.
AB 1779; CA Elections Code Sec. 3017
-3
Weaponization of state agencies — using AG/regulatory bodies against political opponents
AG Rob Bonta files politically-motivated lawsuits against red states. Used CARB and CEC as political tools beyond legislative authority.
CA AG office press releases; CARB rulemaking
-2
Foreign adversary protections — Chinese land, TikTok bans, Confucius Institutes
No California law restricts Chinese land purchases. No TikTok ban on state devices. Newsom personally visited China, met with Xi Jinping.
Newsom China trip Oct 2023; UC system Confucius Institute data
-2
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