Gov. Newsom Calls Special Legislative Session, In Order to "Trump-proof" California "Values"

California Governor Gavin Newsom is calling a special legislative session to proactively counter proposed policies from Donald Trump before Trump's inauguration. Newsom's team states the session will aim to "protect California values, including fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, immigrant families, and more," though specific details are yet to come.

The move, announced just a day after Trump's decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election, rekindles California's opposition to conservative policies, a stance that state Democratic leaders established during Trump's first term.

Newsom has positioned California as a progressive counterweight to the Trump agenda, and a leader in adopting the left wing agenda. "If you think about it," said John Phillips on KABC, "the Democratic party is now leaderless. Nancy Pelosi will not be Speaker of the House, or even House minority leader. No one knows much about Hakim Jeffries. Kamala Harris was just defeated. It's time for people like Gavin, to position themselves as leader going into 2028. James Carville even suggested the Democrats should have a convention in two years, and pick their leadership in 2026."

Phillips pointed out that Trump hasn't done anything yet. So there is no real way to react now, to what he may or may not do after he's sworn in on January 20th 2025.

Newsom's office informed The Associated Press that the governor and state legislators are preparing to "Trump-proof" California's laws. The governor's announcement also included a call for the Legislature to allocate more funding to the attorney general's office to defend against potential federal challenges when they meet in December.

This effort is part of a broader movement among Democratic officials nationwide, who are preparing strategies to protect state policies that may come under threat during Trump's term. Other blue states are also acting quickly to devise plans, anticipating stronger opposition with a Republican-controlled Senate and potentially House.

California's Democratic leaders, including Newsom, are acting now to safeguard the policies that have set the state apart as a national leader.

"We learned a lot about former President Trump in his first term-he's petty, vindictive, and willing to impose dangerous policies to get his way," said state Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire. "California has come too far to simply roll over and accept his bleak vision for America."

"The freedoms we cherish in California are under threat, and we won't stand by quietly," Newsom said in a statement, hinting at his own national ambitions. "California has confronted challenges like this before, and we know how to respond. We're ready to fight in court and to provide Californians with the resources they need to prosper."