“Governor Newsom painted a picture of a California that exists in his imagination.”
Sacramento — California Republican Party Chairwoman, Corrin Rankin, issued the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s final state of the state address. The California Republican Party was also live-posting on its X account: https://x.com/CAGOP
“Governor Newsom told Californians that homelessness is down, crime is at record lows, schools are improving, and Los Angeles is recovering after the Palisades fires.
Governor Newsom painted a picture of a California that exists in his imagination.
Californians do not live in Gavin Newsom’s alternate reality, they live in the real California, which looks very different than his fantasy Marin bubble.
Governor Newsom boasted about California’s economic strength, claiming it’s the world’s fourth-largest economy with growth that’s ‘intentional’ and ‘fair.’ But what good is a high GDP ranking when everyday Californians are being crushed by sky-high costs that make the California Dream unattainable?
The state’s cost of living is 40% above the national average, with housing prices nearly double the rest of the country—a median home now costs over $900,000, requiring a household income of more than $237,000 just to afford a mid-tier property, while the typical family earns barely $102,000. Monthly mortgage payments have skyrocketed 74% since 2020 to over $5,500, and over half of renters are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing amid a shortage of 1.3 million affordable units.
This affordability crisis has driven California’s poverty rate to the highest in the nation at 17.7%, affecting nearly 7 million residents, while pushing a net exodus of over 216,000 people to more affordable states in just the last year alone. Families aren’t celebrating global rankings; they’re packing U-Hauls because they can’t afford to stay.
If homelessness is ‘fixed,’ why are families still stepping around tents on sidewalks and watching open drug use near parks, bus stops, and schools? And why is the state pulling back the very funding that counties say they need to keep progress going? Unfortunately, the tough question of how much of the decline was caused by fentanyl overdoses and living in harsh, inhumane conditions.
If crime is ‘at record lows,’ why did voters pass Proposition 36 by nearly 70% because they were tired of repeat theft and drug dealing with no real consequences? Even after that vote, the governor’s budget left Prop 36 without direct funding, and counties are being told to do more with scraps. Talk to the people who have had their car window smashed, their tools stolen, their package taken, or their small business hit again and again. A safer California means you can go to work, ride transit, and take your kids to the park without looking over your shoulder.
Yes, the state points to reported crime data showing drops in 2024. But everyone knows a lot of crime never makes it into the numbers. Even state and research reports warn that retail theft data is limited and underreported, especially for lower-dollar incidents.
If schools are ‘back,’ why are most kids still not meeting basic standards, especially in math? Statewide test results for 2025 show only about 37% of students met or exceeded the math standard, and about 49% met or exceeded in English. That is not a victory lap. Our universities are still spending time and money on remedial and ‘catch-up’ support because too many students arrive unprepared as a result of Gavin Newsom’s failed education system.
And on wildfire recovery, the governor spoke like the work is done. It is not. A year after the Palisades and Eaton fires, fewer than a dozen homes had been rebuilt out of the thousands lost. Even the city celebrated its first certificate of occupancy only recently. That tells you how slow this has been for families who lost everything.
Finally, the governor bragged about being a ‘model’ by fighting the Trump administration. Californians cannot afford a governor who spends his time picking high-profile fights while basics fall apart at home. We need cooperation that protects public safety and follows the law.
On that point, here is a hard fact: the federal government is now pulling $160 million after California delayed revoking about 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses that federal regulators say did not meet requirements. This is about safety, rules, and responsibility.
Californians deserve leadership that tells the truth, respects the voters, and focuses on results people can feel: safer neighborhoods, schools that teach the basics, faster rebuilding after disasters, and a government that lives within its means.
The California Republican Party is ready to lead and fix what Gavin Newsom and the California Democrats have broken.”
