Gavin Newsom has dismissed questions about the race to succeed him in California for much of the last year. Publicly backing a candidate for governor ties Newsom to the outcome of the race and the candidate. President Trump’s decision to endorse conservative commentator Steve Hilton over the weekend could relieve some pressure on Newsom to weigh in. For Newsom, inaction is more risky than picking a losing candidate, Kousser said. Advertisement“A Republican victory in the state Newsom leads would be read, on the national stage, as a rejection of his legacy,” Kousser said.

Source: Los Angeles Times April 10, 2026 18:17 UTC