FRESNO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled Thursday to a part of the state that supports President-elect Donald Trump and talked about jobs in a county that has flipped from Democratic to Republican support this election cycle.
The governor acknowledged that not everyone feels buoyed by California’s economy and that likely helped build support for Trump.
“It was highlighted in the last election,” Newsom said.
Newsom was in Fresno to announce the Sierra San Joaquin Jobs Initiative and a planned $287 million economic development plan.
“Maybe there are a lot more Trump supporters here, it doesn’t matter,” Newsom said. “I will still stand with them because they want us to turn our backs on them, not us to turn our backs on them.”
While ballots are still being counted in California, Trump is so far winning a majority of support in 31 California counties, including Fresno, flipping several counties from the 2020 election when President Biden defeated Trump.
Eight California counties are on track to support Trump this election cycle.
Democratic political strategist Steve Maviglio says Newsom is now faced with balancing his anti-Trump rhetoric while also trying to appeal to Trump voters, which he may need if he plans to turn in four year to run for president.
“Politics are changing, there’s no doubt about that,” Maviglio said. “I think he wants to show national Democrats that he can talk to Trump sympathizers and Trump voters and talk to them.”
“I care about Trump supporters, I care about RFK Jr. supporters, I care about Tucker Carlson supporters,” Newsom said.
Newsom has already called for one special legislative session in preparation for lawsuits against the Trump administration.
“It’s not about voters, I care about people,” Newsom said.
Now in Fresno County, the governor is carefully trying to make his case, which can be conformational with Trump and work with him.
“We were working very closely with Donald Trump, I was constantly on the phone with him late at night and early in the morning and he was increasingly attacking this state,” Newsom said.
According to the New York Times, Newsom is expected to host similar events in other Trump-supporting California counties in the coming weeks.
