Gov. Gavin Newsom's final State of the State address. (Photo: gov.ca.gov)
Gov. Newsom’s Taxpayer-Paid Staff is Promoting His Campaign Activities for President in Michigan
California law restricts the use of public resources, including staff time, for purely campaign or partisan purposes
By Katy Grimes, August 10, 2026 9:45 am
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s public employee, taxpayer-paid staff is promoting his campaign activities for President in Michigan.
Newsom’s Deputy Director of Rapid Response Brandon Richards (He/Him) posted this on X:
WOW! 1 million views in less than 24 hours from creators & digital-first independent media on Gov @GavinNewsom’s Sunday in Michigan. Thank you @MeidasTouch, @HarryJSisson, @IsaiahRMartin, @jared_shult & @VinceDMonroy for covering! + @CSPAN carried the Governor’s stump for local races live.
Gov. Gavin Newsom's public employee, taxpayer-paid staff is promoting his campaign activities for President in Michigan. https://t.co/NP9YgAW0fD
— Katy Grimes (@KATYSaccitizen) August 10, 2026
Brandon Richards (He/Him) serves as Chief Deputy Director of Communications Rapid Response in the Governor’s Office. This is a taxpayer-funded public employee position in the state communications team.
Newsom was in the Detroit metro area of Michigan over the weekend for a multi-day swing supporting local Democrats, including canvassing and events with candidates for the state House, appearances tied to gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson, and a planned meeting with U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, according to the Detroit News.
Newsom claims he is boosting Democrats up and down the ballot in a key state, as if he is a party leader.
Gavin Newsom is clearly attempting to raise his national profile ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
“California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential Democratic candidate for U.S. president, visited a United Auto Workers local Sunday, urging Democrats to work to flip the Legislature and noted that the outcome of Michigan elections have “profound and outsized importance” Detroit News reported.
“Newsom spoke to crowd of over 150, including canvassers for a canvass launch in Oakland County, and supporters of local Democratic candidates…”
Newsom spoke to a “crowd” of 150? Wow.
Travel and related campaign costs for political activities are typically covered by Newsom’s political accounts and PACs like Campaign for Democracy, not California taxpayers, per reporting on the trip. However, security details for the governor often involve state resources.
Richards’ post is promotional messaging about the political events and their media reach, issued by a state-salaried aide.
California law restricts the use of public resources, including staff time, for purely campaign or partisan purposes.
The X post by Brandon Richards (He/Him) is an example of taxpayer-paid staff advancing Newsom’s political and presidential positioning.
There is no getting around that fact.
Izzy Gardon, Senior Advisor to the Governor, and higher on the organizational chart that Brandon Richards (He/Him), was also promoting Newsom’s campaigning and messaging in Michigan:
“Gavin Newsom stumps for Michigan Democrats and says the Democratic Party must step up and invest down ballot — because state legislative races decide who controls congressional maps. Democrats MUST compete everywhere!”
Gavin Newsom stumps for Michigan Democrats and says the Democratic Party must step up and invest down ballot — because state legislative races decide who controls congressional maps.
Democrats MUST compete everywhere! pic.twitter.com/gUL7HU4j1S
— Izzy Gardon (@iGardon) August 9, 2026
Public employees generally may not engage in campaign activity during compensated work time or using public resources/equipment.
Here is Gov. Newsom’s organizational chart:
A California native and Navy mom, Katy lives in Sacramento, CA.
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Someone should inform the auto workers that Newsom favors Chinese imports over domestic. Electric vehicles over internal combustion engines. that he will pu t them out of work.
This is W-A-Y BEYOND outrageous of course. But what else is new from that a-hole Newsom and his bratty drama class staff?
Why the EFF isn’t our dumbass Governor actually DOING HIS JOB IN CALIFORNIA and getting insurance companies to actually insure properties in California, via wildfire prevention practices???
Why is he “quiet quitting” his (s)elected job while he still holds office?
And why aren’t the mainstream media up in arms about this DERELICTION OF DUTY????
because to the. main stream media we are mushrooms. “Keep them in the dark and feed them bull droppings”
Very, very accurate, Andrew.
Why is he getting paid Governor salary, if he is not attending to California business. Clearly, promoting Michigan electoral candidates is not California business.
Because he actually thinks he has a chance at winning a nomination. He also believes the video disappears so no record of his failures and misdeeds will exist.
Newsom stealing from the taxpayers? Say it ain’t so. If he gets caught, he can just use the state’s legal resources to defend him. He’s already shown he can do that.
What’s going on with Newsom’s hair? Did he put on some extra grease for the United Auto Workers? My gosh, he has more grease on his head than what’s inside a Chevy Silverado rear axle.
So what is to be done? Who is there to report this breaking of the law to; the Attorney General?
It’s the same as Fauci; his staff was used on federal time to promote his personal wishes of personal gain in the amount in excess of $1million dollars, but nothing happens.
If we don’t wear our mask kayaking by ourself on a secluded ocean bay, we can be arrested.
It’s no surprise that Gov. Gavin “Hair-gel Hitler” Newsom would use his taxpayer funded staff to promote his presidential campaign because he’s totally corrupt with ZERO ethics. Who’s going to stop him when the criminal Democrat thug mafia completely controls the state? California’s Democrat Attorney General Rob Bonta is just a corrupt with ZERO ethics as Newsom is.
As for Brandon Richards (he/him | 🏳️🌈 bi+ ) and Izzy Gardon, they’re both obnoxious members of the radical leftist LGBT+++ alphabet rainbow mafia who act as Newsom’s media attack dogs. They’re just as creepy and slimy as Newsom is.
It sounds like prison terms should be in order. But we all know that none of that is going to happen.
Comeade Gavinsky appears very effeminate when he talks.
He is a queer boy.