Newsom, a Democrat and prominent figure in national politics, is widely seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender. The report lands as the governor finds himself in a legal and rhetorical clash with former President Donald Trump over the deployment of National Guard and Marine units to quell the unrest in LA — a move Newsom labeled “immoral” and “illegal.”
Though Newsom has recently taken steps to broaden his appeal — launching a podcast that has hosted conservative voices like Charlie Kirk — Catholic Vote insists the governor’s record proves he hasn’t strayed from his progressive roots.
“Newsom is one of the most radical, destructive politicians in America,” the report claims. “He’s trampled parental rights, promoted extreme gender ideology, and pushed pro-abortion policies to grotesque levels.”
Accusations of Religious Hypocrisy
The report takes direct aim at Newsom’s Catholic identity, accusing him of betraying his faith. “He claims to be a Catholic man of faith, but his agenda is hostile to everything Christianity stands for,” it reads.
In response, Newsom spokesperson Brandon Richards dismissed the report, calling Catholic Vote “a fringe organization co-founded by a political hack” and criticizing their alignment with conspiracy theories and right-wing activism. “They don’t represent the Catholic Church,” he added, quoting Leviticus: “You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you.”
A National Agenda?
The report cites Newsom’s own words — “As California goes, so goes the nation” — to argue that his leadership in California signals a broader liberal shift he intends to bring nationwide.
Among the group’s fiercest criticisms are Newsom’s aggressive promotion of abortion rights. The report notes he signed 12 pro-abortion bills in September 2022 alone and greenlit 9 more in 2023. Particularly controversial was his commissioning of billboards in states like Oklahoma promoting California as an abortion haven — quoting the Bible: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Catholic Vote labeled the billboard campaign “demonic,” echoing condemnation from religious groups including the California Catholic Conference and Protestant leaders.
Targeting Parental Rights
The report also accuses Newsom of weaponizing parental choice to push transgender treatments for minors. In 2022, he signed a bill making California a “sanctuary state” for families seeking gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy. In 2023, he introduced new penalties for school districts that fail to actively promote LGBTQ+ content, calling it “freedom for families to choose.”
Catholic Vote argues this is a rebranding of coercion: “It’s not about freedom. It’s about forcing radical ideology on families and criminalizing dissent.”
Religious Liberty Under Threat?
The report concludes with a stark warning: “If California is America’s preview, then people of faith — and defenders of biological truth — should be deeply alarmed.” It argues that LGBTQ+ ideology, as advanced by leaders like Newsom, endangers freedom of conscience and religious liberty.
‘Wacky Priorities’ Driving Californians Away?
Josh Mercer, Vice President of Catholic Vote, told Fox News Digital that Newsom’s priorities are dangerously out of step with the needs of Californians.
“While LA burns and drug dealers roam free, Newsom is spending taxpayer money on abortion billboards in red states,” Mercer said. “It’s no wonder people are fleeing California in record numbers.”
Despite the criticism, Newsom remains a high-profile voice in the Democratic Party — and the Catholic Vote report signals just how contentious his path to potential national office may become.