Listen to the article
California Governor Gavin Newsom is generating significant media attention—both positive and negative—as he embarks on a national book tour for his newly released memoir, “Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery.”
The two-term Democratic governor, widely considered a potential presidential candidate in 2028, has positioned himself as a leading Democratic counterweight to former President Donald Trump. His six-city tour aims to introduce him to a national audience who may be unfamiliar with his background beyond his tenure as San Francisco mayor and California lieutenant governor.
Released Tuesday, Newsom’s memoir strategically emphasizes biography over policy, attempting to build a relatable narrative around his personal struggles, particularly with dyslexia and academic challenges. However, this approach has already sparked controversy following comments made during a Sunday conversation with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.
During the Atlanta event, Newsom attempted to establish common ground with the audience, saying, “I’m just trying to impress upon you: I’m like you, I’m no better than you, I’m a 960 SAT guy,” referring to his lower-than-average score on the college entrance exam.
The remark immediately drew criticism from conservatives, including South Carolina Republican Senator Tim Scott, who accused Newsom of disparaging Black Americans. “Black Americans aren’t your low bar,” Scott wrote on social media. “We’ve built empires, created movements, outworked, outhustled and outsmarted people like you.”
Newsom and his office forcefully rejected these characterizations, with the governor directly challenging Fox News host Sean Hannity on social media: “You’re going to call me racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia?” His team pointed out that the Atlanta audience was racially diverse, and Mayor Dickens defended Newsom, saying critics were taking the comments out of context.
“That wasn’t an attack on anyone. It was a moment of vulnerability about his own journey,” Dickens wrote on Instagram. “We’ve gotten so used to loud, chest-pounding politics that when someone speaks about shortcomings, people try to twist it into something else.”
The controversy has kept Newsom in the national spotlight for several days, which Republican strategist Mike Murphy suggests could ultimately benefit him. “At this early stage of the pre-presidential race, just about any publicity is good publicity,” Murphy said, adding that Newsom “has a real knack for attracting all the right enemies if you are running for the Democratic presidential nomination.”
Newsom’s team appeared to embrace the attention, later boasting on social media that he was dominating news coverage even on the day of Trump’s State of the Union address.
While criticism of his Atlanta remarks came primarily from conservatives, it also included some prominent progressive voices like Nina Turner, a former co-chair of Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, and philosopher Cornel West.
Simultaneously, Newsom faces backlash from California Democrats over separate comments made in a CNN interview. The governor suggested the Democratic Party needs to be “more culturally normal” and “less prone to spending a disproportionate amount of time on pronouns, identity” while focusing more on kitchen table issues like energy costs and child care.
The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus issued a statement condemning these remarks, saying: “It’s deeply concerning for anyone, especially our elected leaders, to be defining who or what is ‘culturally normal.’ By definition, it implies someone else is ‘not normal.'”
Lindsey Cobia, a senior Newsom campaign adviser, defended the governor by pointing to his long history of supporting LGBTQ+ rights, including his decision as San Francisco mayor to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples before it was legal. “Nobody’s been a bigger supporter of LGBTQ+ rights than Governor Newsom,” Cobia stated.
This isn’t Newsom’s first friction with LGBTQ+ allies. Last year, he drew criticism for saying it was “deeply unfair” for transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports—comments widely interpreted as an attempt to position himself toward the political center.
As Newsom completes his book tour with final stops in San Francisco and Los Angeles, some critics argue that with a year remaining in his governorship, his focus should remain on California’s challenges rather than national positioning. Hollywood crisis manager Holly Baird criticized the timing: “To go on a book tour when our state is in desperate need of revamping and revisions… it’s almost comical.”
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
9 Comments
Interesting that Newsom is trying to connect with voters by highlighting his personal struggles. As a potential 2028 presidential candidate, his memoir strategy seems aimed at making him more relatable. Though the controversy around his comments shows he still has work to do in building broader appeal.
As a prominent Democratic governor, Newsom’s book tour and potential 2028 presidential run will be closely watched. The controversy over his comments suggests he has work to do in bridging divides, but his personal story could also resonate with some voters if presented effectively.
Newsom’s book tour is generating a lot of buzz, both positive and negative. His attempts to position himself as relatable could backfire if he’s not careful. It will be interesting to see how he navigates the political landscape as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
I’m curious to see how Newsom’s memoir and book tour will impact his political future, especially with the heat he’s taking from both Republicans and LGBTQ+ lawmakers. His ability to connect with a national audience beyond California will be crucial if he decides to run for president.
Newsom’s book tour is certainly generating a lot of buzz, both positive and negative. As a potential 2028 presidential candidate, his ability to navigate the political landscape and connect with a diverse range of voters will be critical. The controversy over his comments is a reminder that he still has work to do in building bridges across the aisle.
Newsom’s book tour is certainly generating a lot of buzz, both positive and negative. As a potential 2028 presidential candidate, his ability to navigate the political landscape and connect with a diverse range of voters will be key. The controversy over his comments suggests he still has work to do in that regard.
It will be interesting to see how Newsom’s book tour and potential 2028 presidential run unfold. His focus on biography over policy is a strategic move, but he’ll need to strike the right balance if he wants to gain broader support. The controversy around his comments is a reminder that he still has work to do in building bridges across the aisle.
Newsom’s book tour is drawing a lot of attention, both positive and negative. While emphasizing biography over policy may help humanize him, it also opens him up to criticism from both sides of the aisle. Navigating this balance will be key as he considers a potential White House run.
Newsom’s book tour and potential 2028 run are definitely generating a lot of attention. His focus on biography over policy is a strategic move, but he’ll need to balance that with substantive policy proposals if he wants to gain broader support. The controversy around his comments suggests he still has work to do.