Gavin Newsom’s Presidential Hopes Fade as California Wildfires Highlight Policy Failures

Two years ago, California Governor Gavin Newsom was seen as a rising Democratic star, poised for a presidential bid. But after California’s wildfires and President Trump’s pointed criticism of the state’s failed policies, Newsom’s political future looks dim. As the Governor grapples with widespread dissatisfaction over his handling of the fires and the state’s fiscal issues, his progressive policies—particularly on climate and energy—are being questioned more than ever. With Trump now on the rise and Newsom’s approval plummeting, his presidential ambitions may be a thing of the past.