Dem California governor candidate brutally grades Gov. Gavin Newsom’s time in charge

A Democratic candidate for California governor has dropped a brutal assessment of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s handling of the state, bucking against others who have shied away from criticizing him.

Former state controller Betty Yee said in an interview with KCRA published Sunday the Golden State hasn’t delivered for Californians enough under him.

In the interview, she referred to Newsom’s dogged attacks against the Trump administration, which she supported but added he is mixing up the political act and public service a bit too much.

“I would, however, do that on the political side, not on the public side, just so it’s clear that what we’re doing on the public side is that we’re governing and delivering for Californians,” Yee said.

“That’s where I think we’ve kind of lost our way. We haven’t been keeping a steady foot on the pedal related to that,” she added.

Ultimately, Yee gave Newsom a B grade.

The candidate did shower Newsom with praise for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying he was “present” and commanded the situation well. She said Newsom is doing the right thing fighting the Trump administration.

“Any time our funding, our rights and protections, are under attack, we have to push back,” Yee said.

The California Post reached out to Newsom’s office for comment. His office over the years has repeatedly highlighted the Newsom administration’s accomplishments on various issues such as health care and crime, often with framing to criticize what the Trump administration is doing.

Yee is currently polling in the single digits in the California gubernatorial race.

Other Democratic candidates have been more coy around criticizing the governor. Yee was the first Democratic candidate to even give out a grade on Newsom, KCRA noted.

Last month, progressive billionaire candidate Tom Steyer said regarding Newsom that “I haven’t followed it closely enough to give him a grade,” a remark that sparked some head scratches.

Even San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a notable critic of Newsom within the Democratic Party, told KCRA that “it’s not my job to grade the governor.”

The Republicans in the race have been far less reticent, citing the high cost of living in the state chief among their concerns.

“F, the lowest [grade] possible. It’s a total disaster,” said candidate Steve Hilton of Newsom’s governing.

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