Gov. Gavin Newsom will travel to California counties that voted for President-elect Donald Trump during the election in hopes of connecting with residents who feel frustrated by the economy, the New York Times first reported.
Newsom’s Thursday schedule says that he will be in Fresno County to make announcements about “job creation and bolstering California’s economy.” The governor also has plans to visit Kern and Colusa counties, according to the Times.
While most Californians voted for Vice President Kamala Harris, voting data by county shows that residents in Kern, Tulare, San Bernardino and more inland counties supported Trump more than Harris.
A leading Democrat who has often been viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, Newsom has long criticized Trump. Shortly after the election, the governor called for a special legislative session to “safeguard” the Golden State’s policies ahead of Trump’s return to the White House in January.
He also visited Washington, D.C., where he met with members of California’s congressional delegation and key officials in the Biden-Harris administration.
The actions were criticized by Trump and California Republican legislators.
During an interview on Wednesday, Newsom acknowledged that his party needs to learn from the recent election loss and address the struggles of American workers. He noted that countering Republican claims that Democrats had failed working-class residents was critical.
“People are being left behind; their regions are being left behind,” Newsom told the Times. “We as a party will be history if we don’t heed the call to address the economy.”