After campaigning outside California, Newsom boosts Democrats at home

All through this election cycle, California Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled the country campaigning for the Democratic presidential ticket, making stops in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Hampshire, Georgia, South Carolina, Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Nevada.

He ran his personal marketing campaign to boost cash for Democrats in purple states, turned the celebration’s fighter on conservative television shows and acted as a proxy for President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

After crisscrossing America, the Democratic governor is spending the ultimate days of the 2024 election in a spot the place he hasn’t campaigned very a lot this 12 months: his house state.

“You are able to do something. You’ll be able to’t do all the things,” Newsom stated about his effort to steadiness his duties to marketing campaign nationally and in California throughout an interview. “I imply, if there was an eighth day I’d use it.”

Newsom’s appearances this weekend in Orange County highlighted an irony of his technique: Because the governor wooed donors in Boise, Idaho, and defended Biden in Atlanta, Democrats in California have waged a fierce battle in key congressional races largely with out the state’s strongest politician by their facet.

California has several battleground House races that can assist decide which celebration controls Congress subsequent 12 months. The closest contests are in areas of the state the place polls present Newsom is most unpopular with voters. The governor’s resolution to spend extra time campaigning outdoors California than in its best districts may very well assist his Golden State allies — and his personal political profession.

“He’s not solely engaged on the presidential marketing campaign for Vice President Harris, however there’s little doubt that he’s additionally engaged on his personal potential presidential marketing campaign, and he doesn’t want to try this in California,” stated Matt Rexroad, a Republican strategist. “He is aware of all these folks.”

With two years left earlier than time period limits pressure Newsom out of the governor’s workplace, touring the nation for Biden and Harris allowed him to showcase himself as a seasoned politician and a prolific fundraiser whereas increase his listing of supporters outdoors California. The pilgrimages into GOP territory branded the governor as a pugilist able to touchdown pictures on the Republican Social gathering and former President Trump.

Although Newsom endorsed only a handful of Democrats working for Congress and declined to take an official stance on seven of the ten measures on the statewide ballot, the governor stated he’s put in work as California’s high Democrat.

He raised practically $2 million for eight Democratic candidates in California congressional contests, his aides stated, and has made appearances in a number of districts all through the lengthy marketing campaign season.

“We’ve been doing loads of fundraising for the congressional people for nearly two years,” Newsom stated.

On Sunday, Newsom joined a lineup that included Senate candidate Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), California Democratic Social gathering Chairman Rusty Hicks, state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta and a number of other others rallying for Democrat Derek Tran at a United Meals and Industrial Employees union corridor in Buena Park.

He instructed the group he was there for 2 principal causes: to thank the volunteers canvassing and making requires Democrats and to assist Tran in his effort to oust Republican Rep. Michelle Metal (R-Seal Seaside) — a contest thought-about some of the essential congressional races within the nation.

“That’s how essential you’re to the destiny and future, not simply of this district, however in lots of respects, the destiny and way forward for this nation,” Newsom stated to marketing campaign employees within the room.

Although Newsom wasn’t bodily current in Orange County and Palm Springs for many of the election, he turned a central determine in a few of the races.

Republican incumbents have been tying their Democratic challengers to Newsom in an effort to scare off average voters and stoke their base.

In an advert by GOP Rep. Ken Calvert’s marketing campaign in Congressional District 41, the governor’s face transforms into that of Calvert’s Democratic opponent, Will Rollins.

“He’s slick, loves taxes, and extra liberal than Gavin Newsom,” the narrator says as Newsom’s picture blends with Rollins’.

The advert claims that Rollins, “similar to Newsom,” will drive up fuel costs, property and earnings taxes for residents of the Riverside County district that stretches from Corona to the Coachella Valley and contains Palm Springs.

“We are able to’t cease Newsom, however we are able to cease radical Will Rollins,” the advert says.

Newsom dismissed the advert as “politics,” however Rexroad stated the governor’s approval scores in swing districts in California make him a simple foil for the GOP.

A statewide poll performed by the Public Coverage Institute of California, or PPIC, in October discovered {that a} majority of voters disapprove of Newsom’s efficiency as governor. His scores had been worse within the Central Valley, Orange County, San Diego and the Inland Empire, the place about 6 in 10 voters disapprove.

These are the areas the place Democrats are working to flip a number of GOP-held Home seats.

“For [Republican Rep.] David Valadao, he would love nothing greater than for [Democrat] Rudy Salas and Gavin Newsom to be on the entrance web page of the Bakersfield Californian and all the different information there for the remainder of the election,” Rexroad stated. “The governor is extraordinarily unpopular within the Central Valley.”

Newsom didn’t seem over the weekend within the Kern County district the place Salas is searching for to oust Valadao (R-Hanford).

The governor pushed again on the concept that Democrats had been involved about showing with him.

“Of us are on the lookout for all of the assist they will get constantly and have all through this marketing campaign,” he stated.

In Orange County, Republicans seized on Newsom’s look days earlier than he even appeared with Tran.

In a information launch, Metal, Tran’s opponent, known as out Newsom’s function as his marketing campaign “nearer.”

“Bringing Newsom to city tells voters all the things they should find out about the place Derek Tran’s loyalties lie: With the Sacramento crew that desires to take their tax elevating, zero-bail insurance policies to Washington,” Metal stated in an announcement.

Regardless of the numbers, former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer stated Democratic campaigns are utilizing the governor as a result of they consider he may help. Newsom, she stated, is nice at “delivering messages that cross over.”

“They’re within the closing days, and so they know who they need,” Boxer stated of the campaigns. “However I actually assume he’s an asset all over the place as a result of I feel he’s a superb campaigner. He’s a really good campaigner. He is aware of the problems that transfer folks. I wouldn’t go by approval scores — no one’s off the charts.”

The previous few days of an election are largely about rising turnout and fewer so about altering minds, or flipping votes, when many citizens have already selected their candidate and turned in ballots.

PPIC pollster Mark Baldassare stated it is sensible for congressional campaigns to make use of Newsom within the waning days of the election to drive Democrats to the polls.

“I don’t actually see a lot of a draw back danger,” Baldassare stated. “I see the upside of getting probably the most well-known Democrat in California, aside from Kamala Harris, on the market as a doable motivator for Democrats greater than a motivator for Republicans to go the opposite manner.”

Newsom’s late appearances within the congressional districts give him a chance to later say he performed an element, even when minor, if Democrats win the Home. It additionally limits the potential harm and time GOP campaigns have to make use of his visits to their benefit.

Regardless of the critics of Newsom’s election priorities and potential motivations, it’s good for politicians to marketing campaign in a manner that enhances others and themselves, stated Thad Kousser, a professor of political science at UC San Diego.

“Politicians do issues in their very own self-interest,” Kousser stated. “However profitable politicians do issues that assist them and their allies, and the savviest politicians do these issues very visibly.”