Governor of California since 2019; Democrat; opposed Trump’s federalization of the state’s National Guard
Background
Gavin Newsom is an American politician serving as Governor of California since 2019, having previously been the state’s lieutenant governor and the mayor of San Francisco. A Democrat, he became a central figure in the 2025 dispute over Donald Trump’s federalization and deployment of the California National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles over his objection, which Newsom called inflammatory and challenged in court. He also said the administration’s use of the troops alongside immigration agents violated the Posse Comitatus Act.
