Governor Gavin Newsom used his Fourth of July message to urge Americans to defend democracy, asserting that the nation's democratic promise is under threat from President Donald J Trump. Newsom called for a renewed fight, drawing parallels to historical movements that expanded and protected democratic principles.
The Governor warned that President Trump has "repeatedly undermined the will of the people," citing attempts to overturn the 2020 election and ongoing attacks on voting rights and election integrity. In response, California is actively working to protect the right to vote, with Newsom announcing plans for new legislation to make it a felony to seize ballots before election results are certified.
In an accompanying essay, Governor Newsom emphasized the radical nature of the Declaration of Independence's clause that "governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed." He wrote, "Today, on this Independence Day, the radical idea behind that clause is under threat from one man who embodies the very instincts our Founding Fathers fought against. Our corrupt and unstable President is forcing us to ask a once-unimaginable question: Do we still have a government that belongs to the people?"
Newsom detailed past actions attributed to President Trump, including the call to Georgia's Secretary of State to 'find' votes in 2020, the organization of fake electors, and the January 6th Capitol attack. He also mentioned the installation of loyalists in election offices, the U.S. Department of Justice seeking voter information, a "MAGA sheriff" seizing ballots in California, and Trump's alleged seizure of California's National Guard.
California, Newsom said, is taking a firm stance. He highlighted Proposition 50, which established new Congressional maps, and reiterated the state's commitment to prosecuting anyone who interferes with its elections. "If you violate California’s laws, if you interfere with our voters, tamper with our ballots, or meddle in our election, you will be prosecuted," Newsom stated, adding that California "will be the wall he cannot get past."
The Governor concluded by invoking historical struggles for voting rights, from women's suffrage to the Civil Rights Movement, urging Americans to participate, vote, and stand up for the democratic promise. "Let us keep our democracy. Let us prove once more that this is a government of the people," he said.