Gov. Gavin Newsom Postpones California State of the State Address

Gov. Gavin Newsom Postpones California State of the State Address

While I drank mojitos in the Caribbean, California was part of the Super Tuesday fun. The national results were mostly expected, but a few intriguing developments specific to California have arisen in the wake of the primary election.

First of all, the voter turnout was exceedingly low…and the ballots still have yet to be counted entirely, even weeks after the election.

The latest official tally from the Secretary of State’s office shows that more than 5.8 million ballots have been counted from California’s primary, with 1.7 million still to go.

Based on today’s updated umbers, the total of 7.5 million votes means a turnout of about 34%, well below the norm for presidential primaries, but not the record low that some analysts projected based on early numbers.

It also means that it’s going to be a while before some results are finalized, likely amplifying complaints that it takes too long to count votes in California. While voting by mail has been happening for a month, as long as ballots were postmarked by last Tuesday and they arrive at elections offices by this Tuesday, they will be counted. As expected, the votes being counted after primary day are trending more Democratic and younger.

Interestingly, over 10% of the voters choosing the Democratic presidential candidate chose an obscure one rather than the current occupant of the Oval Office. Given Biden’s performance in Saginaw, Michigan, and this apparent lack of enthusiasm for him in Deep Blue California, the angst among Democratic political leaders is palpable.

However, there is even more fallout from the California primary that is unanticipated. California Gov. Gavin Newsom had initially scheduled to give the “State of the State” address hard on the heels of Biden’s execrable State of the Union address, likely to contrast his energy and appeal to those of the decrepitude that is Biden.

However, Newsom didn’t count on his signature Proposition 1 measure, fighting to survive an extremely close ballot count.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has postponed his State of the State address, the governor’s office confirmed to The Hill Friday night.

Newsom’s address was originally scheduled to be delivered on Monday. A new date for the speech has not been provided.

His office is coordinating with the legislature to nail a new date for the governor’s address, per an email to The Hill.

…The postponement of the address comes as his push to overhaul how California treats disorders related to mental health is still active, even with Proposition 1 having a slim lead.

Newsom is making a last-minute effort to correct rejected ballots, notes Politico.

Apparently, taxpaying Californians have begun to clue in about bonds and their connection to bloated government bureaucracies.

The measure would outlay $6.4 billion of additional funding — through new bonds and restructuring existing legislation —for more treatment beds and housing. Its failure would be a huge setback for Newsom, who’s facing yet another recall push and has only two more years in office to deliver on his promises to voters.

Although Prop. 1’s opponents have conceded that the measure is likely to pass, the 0.01% margin is not exactly the resounding victory that the governor undoubtedly hoped to tout in his State of the State speech. As of Saturday morning, fewer than 20,000 votes separated the “Yes” from the “No” votes, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Hot Air’s Beege Welborne reported exactly how little funding opposition to Proposition 1 had, proving that Democratic Party and Big Media messaging isn’t what it once was in the state.

Proposition 1 opponents had, like, all of $80,000 in the bank to spend against Newsom’s signature “mental health” boondoggle bill, and they are this close to tanking it anyway. That should be the shot across the bow that CA residents are getting tired of the taxing tyrant, that they’re plain running out of money or all of the above.

I am heartened to see my “No” vote has been counted and is making a slight difference in this state. I have so few political joys here; I must savor what I get.

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