Gov. Gavin Newsom's final State of the State address. (Photo: gov.ca.gov)
Newsom Talks Affordability – Californians Pay the Bills
You don’t get credit for every goal and then get to blame someone else for every cost
By Hector Barajas, October 5, 2026 1:00 pm
Governor Gavin Newsom was in New York this past month talking about California’s climate record and arguing that clean energy, economic growth, and affordability can go together.
That sounds good.
But if you live in California, there is a much simpler way to judge whether something is affordable: look at your bills.
Look at your electric bill. Look at what you paid the last time you filled up your car. Look at your rent, groceries, and insurance.
That is where political talking points run into real life.
California has made progress in renewable energy and battery storage. But Californians should also be allowed to ask a basic question:
What did it cost us?
The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office says California residential electricity rates are close to twice those in the rest of the country. From 2019 through 2023, residential rates increased about 47%, while overall inflation increased about 18%.
Then there is gasoline. California drivers are now paying about $6.39 per gallon for regular gas, roughly $1.70 more than the national average.
These are not numbers on a government spreadsheet. They are the parent deciding whether there is enough money left after paying the electric bill. The small business owner watching another operating cost go up. The worker who has to drive 40 miles to work because living closer is too expensive.
For millions of Californians, there isn’t much room left.
The Public Policy Institute of California found that 17.4% of Californians were living in poverty in 2024, about 6.7 million people. Another 6.9 million were living just above the poverty line. Together, those numbers mean roughly one out of every three Californians was poor or near poor.
The California gas prices, electricity rates, and poverty statistics are part of California’s story we don’t hear enough about when our politicians travel around the country, talking about what other states should learn from us.
There is actually a term for the active use of selective, factually true statements to mislead someone or create a false impression: paltering.
In politics, we might call it “policy paltering.”
Talk about emissions reductions. Talk about renewable energy. Talk about economic growth.
But don’t leave out the fees, regulations, or electric or gas bills.
After nearly eight years as governor, Newsom also has to own his administration’s broader record and the trade-offs he made.
That is what accountability is supposed to mean.
You don’t get credit for every goal and then get to blame someone else for every cost.
As Newsom’s time as governor moves toward its end, Californians, and anyone looking at California as a model, should look past the speeches and ask a few simple questions:
- What changed?
- What did it cost?
- Who benefited?
- And who paid?
Because affordability isn’t a talking point.
For millions of Californians, it arrives every month with a due date.
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Jurisdiction Cost of Living Index Current Party in Charge Officeholder
Hawaii 184.8 Democratic Gov. Josh Green (D), since 2022
Massachusetts 147.8 Democratic Gov. Maura Healey (D), since 2023
California 140.5 Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), term-limited
How about that! The three most expensive states in the country are run by Democrats.
Listening to Democrats talk about affordability is like talking to a bank robber about not being robbed. Democrats are thieves. The only difference is instead of using a gun, they use the government.
Newscum whining about “affordability”? What happened? Did the French Laundry raise their prices? As if he pays his own way.
I agree with what you said, but you also have to factor in the high wages that are paid. How do California wages compare to states with lower utilities costs. There is an old saying that a rising tide raises all boats. Rising wages raises all prices.
Great comment Dennis!
Newsom is a two faced liar.
On June 29 of this year. Newsom signed a bill to put sales tax on ALL software, including software subscriptions and software services. So Windows, Microsoft Office, ChatGPT, Claude, Zoom, Dropbox, Slack, Google Workspace, Monday.com, SalesForce, and thousands more…all taxed. If you are in Los Angeles, that will be 10.25%.
By the way, every representative in the California State Senate and Assembly who voted for this was a Democrat, and every representative who voted against this was Republican. Now which party supports affordability?
So tell me Newscum, you signed the law. How is this improving affordability?
Guess what, folks? Not only did Newscum sign the law taxing software and software services, he proposed this to the legislature May 14, 2026 as part of his budge proposal. It was his idea!
Says the guy who bought a $9mil house with someone else’s money
Again for the umpteenth time, when is GAVIN going to PRISON where he rightfully belongs? Where’s the accountability? He forced Covid-19 Medical TYRANNY down our throats including Draconian LOCKDOWNS. Neither he nor the Evil MEDICAL COMMUNITY TYRANTS and DR MENGELAS were ever held accountable and how many people DIED SUDDENLY or wound up with long rubbery BLOOD CLOTS or MYOCARDITIS and PERICARDITIS or crippling inflammation as a result of those mRNA Covid shots? That also applies to Albert Bourla the CEO of Pfizer and Stephen Bancel, the CEO of Moderna and the FDA, and NIH. Gavin also giggled and pranced in when Malibu-Palisades burnt down and said it was Climate Change-Global Warming and the rebuilt area according to LA is probably going to be called SMARTLA2028, which indicates to me, this fire was Deliberate. Also not held accountable is Karen Bass and that reservoir is still EMPTY. And for some reason, even though GAVIN gets around pretty good and still FLIES around, he does NOT want us Plebes to get around. There’ll be NO CARS or TIRES for us, because we’ll be stuck in the UN’s 15-MINUTE-CITIES aka SMART CITIES aka C40 CITIES. Hmm, perhaps outside of more people coming into CA, that’s why Home prices have SKYROCKETED. Sure, there’s supply and demand and appreciation, but really, the average Median price of housing in SAN JOSE is now a MILLION DOLLARS? For even a smallish starter home? My parents old home was a small one-story , small 4 bedrooms and smallish 2 bathroom in the house. They made it pretty nice, but it’s still not worth a MILLION DOLLARS, no matter how much they improved it. This is all CRIMINAL in my opinion! And as the evil, vile and voraciously GREEDY GLOBALISTS and the WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM likes to say to the plebes, We’ll Own Nothing, have no privacy and we’ve never been happier. What a wonderful plan, hmm?
And I forgot to mention, GAVIN was a former YOUNG GLOBAL LEADER for the WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM. That’s also where the phrase BUILD BACK BETTER was frequently mentioned. he also just loved XIXI PING and he couldn’t wait to clean up San Francisco just for him, but for actual USA CITIZENS that he falsely claims to represent, he just doesn’t give a rat’s behind. He’s a TRAITOR and should be treated as such and again, he should be IN PRISON.
Well, ILLEGAL ALIENS are doing pretty good here with the FREE HOUSING and MEDICAL, right?