By Tanu T. Henry | California Black Media
Early on Nov. 6 — shortly after 2 a.m. ET in Palm Beach, Fla.– President-elect Donald J. Trump declared victory in the 2024 General Election. He thanked supporters and pledged to “fix” the United States with the support of “the biggest, the broadest, the most unified coalition” the country has ever seen.
“They came from all quarters,” Trump said to applause. “Union, nonunion, African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, Arab American, Muslim American, we had everybody, and it was beautiful.”
The next day, Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked Vice President Kamala Harris for a well-fought campaign and congratulated the President-elect, promising to work along with him.
However, Newsom put a stake in the ground with a pledge he made as well: to defend the Constitution of the United States and stand up for policies and values that may be at odds with Trump’s politics but are supported by the majority of Californians.
“Though this is not the outcome we wanted, our fight for freedom and opportunity endures,” said Newsom in a statement. “California will seek to work with the incoming president — but let there be no mistake, we intend to stand with states across our nation to defend our Constitution and uphold the rule of law.”
Throughout his governorship, Newsom has introduced and rallied support for a number of progressive policies on a range of issues from criminal justice reform, immigration and trade to the environment, abortion and racial justice. Championing those views has positioned Newsom as the protagonist of the political Left and a punching bag of the political Right, including Trump. The incoming POTUS frequently references California in his criticisms and invokes Newsom by name, or a disparaging nickname (“Newscum”), setting the Governor up as his arch-nemesis in political diatribes.
On Nov. 8, Newsom issued a proclamation calling for a special convening of the California Legislature to “safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration.”
“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” wrote Newsom.
Like Newsom, a number of California elected officials congratulated Trump last week but moderated their well wishes with a commitment to fight against the policies that they disagree with. In anticipation, many have even begun to put forth counterproposals and organize their opposition to the incoming President and the policies he has promised to introduce to address various problems.
For example, On Nov. 8, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who is running for governor, organized a press conference with leaders and advocates in the California education sector to respond to Trump winning the presidential election.
“This week I heard from some educators in Special Education, and they shared with me their fears and their consternation because of what they heard about a threat to end the U.S. Department of Education,” said Thurmond. “They said, ‘If the U.S. Department of Education is abolished does that mean that they are getting rid of Special Education services for California students?’”
Thurmond addressed those concerns, “Let me be clear,” he continued. “We will not be ever getting rid of Special Education services in the great state of California. And we call on President-elect Trump and the members of Congress to reaffirm their commitment to public education.”
Attorney General Rob Bonta said the California Department of Justice is working closely with the state Legislature “to shore up our defenses and ensure we have the resources we need to take on each fight as it comes.”
“No matter what the incoming Administration has in store, California will keep moving forward,” said Bonta. “We’ve been through this before, and we stand ready to defend your rights and protect California values.”
U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), who served as a surrogate for the Harris-Walz campaign, said in a statement, “We cannot hide our disappointment.”
“This is a dangerous and frightening moment for our democracy,” she continued. “I am fearful that the progress we’ve made over the past four years will be undone,” added Lee. “That said, we cannot lose sight of the fact that more than 68 million Americans voted to take our country forward. They voted for progress. They voted for Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Lee went on, “We must fight to preserve our democracy and our Constitution. We must fight to preserve our rights.
On Nov. 7, Lateefah Simon, who won the election to succeed Lee in the U.S. Congress, told KQED, a Bay Area news outlet, that “We have to fight like hell to ensure that the people of the United States have health care, that we push back on the Trump administration’s promise to gut Social Security.”
On Nov. 6, during a television interview with News Nation’s Chris Cuomo, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) said it will be difficult to work with Trump.
“He said he is going to get retribution from those who have not worked with him, who don’t like him. He is out to get people like me,” she said.
U.S. Rep Sydney Kamlager (D-CA-37) said “I want the State Legislature here and the attorney general and the governor to go hard in the paint against him,” referring to Trump. “They will have the backing of the California delegation” in Congress.
Assemblymember James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) and other Republican leaders, on the other hand, celebrated Trump’s victory.
“President Trump has accomplished the comeback of the century! #45 and #47!” Gallagher posted on X election night.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11) reminded everyone of one of their most important civic duties.
“We all pray for America’s success under the next administration. The peaceful transfer of power is the cornerstone of our democracy,” she posted on X. “After every election, we all have a responsibility to come together and find common ground.”
