Newsom, the state’s lieutenant governor and former mayor of San Francisco, had said during the primary he preferred a Republican opponent in the fall. He told supporters Tuesday that he relishes a fight with Cox, whom he called “a foot soldier” for Trump’s war on California. “It wasn’t Donald Trump who made California the highest tax state in the country,” Cox told enthusiastic supporters. In the race for governor, Cox’s second-place finish was a victory for a state GOP that has been shrinking in numbers and influence. And while Trump is well-liked by the GOP base that boosted Cox, he’s unpopular with independents and a call to arms for Democrats.

Source: National Post June 06, 2018 09:22 UTC