Looks like Newsom has jumped onto AOC’s socialist bandwagon.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is putting a spotlight on the growing influence of democratic socialist ideas within the Democratic Party, acknowledging that the two sides share common ground on several major policy issues.
Newsom made the remarks during a PBS NewsHour interview as he discussed the Democratic Party’s future and the recent success of candidates associated with democratic socialism.
The California governor, who continues to attract national attention over his political future, was asked whether ideas promoted by democratic socialist candidates should become a larger part of the Democratic Party’s platform.
Newsom’s answer was straightforward: Many of them already are.
“I think they are,” Newsom said.
Newsom Points to Common Ground With Democratic Socialists
Newsom highlighted campaign finance reform as one area where Democrats and the political left share similar goals, noting that he has supported efforts to reduce the influence of money in politics for years.
The interviewer then raised an important distinction, pointing out that there still appeared to be distance between Democratic Party leadership and candidates affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, commonly known as the DSA.
Newsom responded that the distance did not necessarily extend to their policy positions.
“But, not the ideas,” Newsom said.
He then identified health care as one of the clearest examples.
Newsom said he supports universal health care and Medicare for All before arguing that those positions enjoy significant support within the Democratic Party.
“If it’s about Medicare for All, I think we’re pretty aligned,” Newsom said.
Climate and Fossil Fuels Also Enter the Discussion
Newsom also pointed to climate and energy policy as another area of overlap.
The California governor said the country must respond to climate change while pursuing energy security and transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Newsom specifically described moving away from fossil fuels as both a DSA position and a position found within mainstream Democratic politics.
His remarks offer a revealing look at how one of the country’s most prominent Democratic governors views the ideological debate taking place inside his party.
Rather than treating democratic socialism as entirely separate from the Democratic mainstream, Newsom argued that several policies associated with the movement already have a place within the party.
Newsom Says He Isn’t Alarmed by the Socialist Label
Newsom also downplayed concerns about the democratic socialist label itself.
The governor said the terminology was familiar to him, particularly given his political background in California, where progressive politics have long played a significant role.
Newsom suggested that he views democratic socialists as part of the broader ideological debate within the Democratic coalition rather than as an entirely separate political movement.
He described that internal debate as healthy.
That distinction is important because the Democratic Socialists of America’s current national agenda contains proposals that go substantially further than the issues Newsom specifically endorsed during his PBS interview.
DSA’s Agenda Goes Much Further
The DSA’s current “Workers Deserve More” program lays out an extensive vision for changing American economic policy, immigration enforcement and the structure of the federal government.
Among other proposals, the organization supports abolishing the U.S. Senate.
DSA also advocates replacing America’s current presidential system and Supreme Court structure with an executive and judiciary selected by and subordinate to Congress.
The organization supports replacing the country’s two-party political system with a multiparty system using proportional representation and ranked-choice voting.
Its agenda also calls for publicly financed elections and other major changes to America’s political institutions.
Immigration Is Another Major Part of DSA’s Platform
Immigration represents another significant component of the organization’s agenda.
DSA calls for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ending ICE detention and deportations, legalizing migration and providing amnesty to immigrants regardless of their current immigration status.
The organization also advocates expanding voting rights to permanent U.S. residents and restoring voting rights to incarcerated Americans and people with criminal convictions.
DSA additionally calls for defunding what the federal government now calls the Department of War, ending U.S. foreign wars and closing overseas military bases.
These proposals illustrate why it is important to distinguish between the policies Newsom discussed and the DSA’s complete political program.
Newsom Did Not Endorse the Entire DSA Platform
Newsom did not endorse abolishing the Senate, restructuring the presidency or Supreme Court, abolishing ICE or the DSA’s entire agenda during the PBS interview.
Instead, he specifically emphasized areas where he believes Democratic and democratic socialist priorities overlap.
Those areas included Medicare for All, universal health care, campaign finance reform, lowering costs, addressing climate change and moving away from fossil fuels.
That distinction provides important context for understanding exactly what Newsom said.
At the same time, his willingness to emphasize those areas of agreement demonstrates how ideas associated with democratic socialism are becoming part of the larger conversation over the Democratic Party’s future.
Democratic Socialists Gain More Attention
The Democratic Socialists of America has received increased national attention following electoral victories by candidates associated with the movement.
The organization openly says it wants to build independent political power and support democratic socialist candidates at the local, state and federal levels.
Its newly promoted national program provides an indication of the policies the organization hopes to advance as its political profile grows.
That creates a significant debate for Democrats.
Some Democratic politicians see opportunities to embrace popular economic themes promoted by the left, particularly on health care and affordability. Others have expressed disagreement with portions of the democratic socialist agenda.
Newsom’s comments place him squarely in that larger conversation.
What Newsom’s Comments Mean for the Democratic Party
Newsom’s interview provides a clearer picture of where he believes mainstream Democrats and democratic socialists can find common ground.
His comments do not amount to an endorsement of everything contained in the DSA platform.
But they do show that Newsom sees considerably less distance between Democrats and democratic socialists on certain major policy questions than the different political labels might suggest.
For voters watching the Democratic Party’s direction, the distinction could become increasingly important.
The debate is no longer simply about whether democratic socialist candidates can win elections. It is also about which of their ideas will gain broader acceptance within the Democratic Party.
Newsom appears comfortable with at least some of that overlap.
And as attention increasingly turns toward the next presidential election cycle, his comments on Medicare for All, climate policy, fossil fuels and the democratic socialist movement are likely to remain part of the discussion surrounding his political future.
