California Governor Newsom Faces Criticism During National Book Tour

California Governor Gavin Newsom is encountering backlash from both Republican critics and LGBTQ+ advocates during his national book tour for his memoir. The controversy stems from comments he made about his academic struggles and remarks about the Democratic Party needing to be more "culturally normal."

LOS ANGELES — California Governor Gavin Newsom’s national book tour is generating significant controversy as the Democrat faces criticism from multiple fronts while promoting his memoir across the country.

The two-term governor, who many anticipate will run for president in 2028, has drawn fire from Republican politicians who claim recent statements were racially insensitive, as well as from LGBTQ+ advocates who object to his suggestion that Democrats should become more “culturally normal.”

Newsom launched his promotional tour for “Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery” as part of his effort to establish himself as Trump’s primary Democratic opponent and demonstrate his capabilities on the national stage.

The memoir, which hit shelves Tuesday, emphasizes personal biography rather than policy positions and aims to familiarize national audiences with the former San Francisco mayor and lieutenant governor. While some argue any media attention benefits politicians, the six-city promotional tour is challenging Newsom as he works to overcome perceptions of being an out-of-touch liberal elite.

Central to Newsom’s personal story are his academic challenges and ongoing battle with dyslexia, which he uses to connect with voters. However, Republicans criticized remarks he made Sunday while speaking with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who is Black.

“I’m just trying to impress upon you: I’m like you, I’m no better than you, I’m a 960 SAT guy,” Newsom stated, referencing his below-average college entrance exam score.

GOP leaders accused Newsom of insulting Black Americans by implying they lack intelligence, charges that Newsom and his staff vehemently rejected.

“Black Americans aren’t your low bar,” wrote South Carolina Republican Senator Tim Scott, who is Black, on social media. “We’ve built empires, created movements, outworked, outhustled and outsmarted people like you. Stop using your mediocre academics as a way to patronize communities. Its ridiculous!”

Newsom’s team responded aggressively to criticism from Fox News host Sean Hannity, accusing him of manufactured outrage while ignoring Trump’s racist statements. “You’re going to call me racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia?” Newsom posted on X.

His staff noted the audience’s diverse racial composition and their positive reaction. Dickens defended Newsom, arguing critics misunderstood the context.

“That wasn’t an attack on anyone. It was a moment of vulnerability about his own journey,” the mayor posted 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.”

Several prominent Black Democrats also supported Newsom against the criticism.

The ongoing debate has kept Newsom’s book tour in national headlines for multiple days, valuable exposure in today’s fractured political media landscape.

“At this early stage of the pre-presidential race, just about any publicity is good publicity,” explained Republican strategist Mike Murphy. To “have the spotlight is invaluable and Newsom has a real knack for attracting all the right enemies if you are running for the Democratic presidential nomination.”

Newsom’s communications team later boasted on social media about dominating news coverage on the same day as Trump’s State of the Union address. “FOX NEWS IS WALL-TO-WALL COVERAGE OF ME,” the post declared.

While most criticism of his Atlanta remarks came from conservatives, some exceptions included Nina Turner, who co-chaired Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, and Cornel West, who attempted a third-party presidential run in 2024. Both are Black.

Simultaneously, Newsom is facing criticism from California Democrats regarding separate comments made this week.

During a CNN interview that aired Monday, he argued the Democratic Party should become “more culturally normal” and “less prone to spending a disproportionate amount of time on pronouns, identity” while focusing more on energy costs, childcare, and other practical concerns.

“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,'” responded the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus in an official statement.

“We cannot adopt the language of MAGA extremists who in the last year are actively seeking to roll back the rights of women, LGBTQ+ individuals and marginalized communities,” the caucus added.

Lindsey Cobia, a senior campaign adviser for Newsom, highlighted his extensive record supporting LGBTQ+ rights, including his decision as mayor to issue same-sex marriage licenses before it was legally permitted.

“Nobody’s been a bigger supporter of LGBTQ+ rights than Governor Newsom,” she stated.

This isn’t Newsom’s first conflict with LGBTQ+ allies. During his political podcast’s debut episode last year, he called transgender athletes competing in women’s sports “deeply unfair.” Many interpreted those remarks as Newsom’s attempt to appeal to moderate voters.

The book tour concludes with stops in San Francisco and Los Angeles. With one year remaining in his gubernatorial term, some critics question whether he should concentrate on California issues instead.

“To go on a book tour when our state is in desperate need of revamping and revisions … its almost comical,” said Hollywood crisis manager Holly Baird, who opposes the governor.