{"id":2582981,"date":"2026-03-23T16:14:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T20:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-gubernatorial-candidate-declines-to-grade-newsom\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T16:15:29","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T20:15:29","slug":"california-gubernatorial-candidate-declines-to-grade-newsom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-gubernatorial-candidate-declines-to-grade-newsom\/","title":{"rendered":"California gubernatorial candidate declines to grade Newsom"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-gubernatorial-candidate-declines-to-grade-newsom%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2582981&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Teh article reports that tom Steyer, a Democratic candidate for California governor, declined to grade the current governor, gavin Newsom, saying \u201cI don\u2019t know\u201d and that he hasn\u2019t followed Newsom\u2019s tenure closely enough to give a grade. He praised Newsom for standing up for the state and described California in three words as \u201cProsperous \u2026 Just \u2026 Shared values.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Steyer is one of several <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-democrats-push-election-legislation-prohibiting-states-from-requiring-identification\/\" title=\"House Democrats push ... legislation prohibiting states from requiring identification\">democrats seeking<\/a> to succeed Newsom in a jungle primary, with a debate upcoming that will also include Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, and Eric Swalwell on the Democratic side, and Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco on the Republican side. The debate is hosted by the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future and ABC7\/KABC-TV Los angeles.<\/p>\n<p>The piece notes that California uses a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-republican-flops-in-primary-after-free-beacon-unearths-anti-semitic-rant\/\" title=\"... Republican Flops in Primary After Free Beacon Unearths Anti-Semitic Rant\">jungle primary system<\/a> and that Primary Election Day is June 2, 2026. A poll cited in the article shows California Democrats overwhelmingly favor Newsom over Kamala Harris for 2028, while Newsom has not endorsed a successor and his office declined to comment on the gubernatorial race.Steyer reiterated that he hasn\u2019t followed newsom closely enough to grade him, and he described California\u2019s leadership as \u201cprosperous \u2026 Just \u2026 Shared values.\u201d  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">California Democratic governor candidate declines to grade Newsom: &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t know&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2538862\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">California<\/a> Democratic gubernatorial candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tom-steyer\/\">Tom Steyer<\/a> dodged answering how he would grade the current governor&rsquo;s two terms on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Steyer is one of many Democrats running to succeed Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\">Gavin Newsom<\/a> (D-CA) in this November&rsquo;s election. A reporter asked Steyer how he would grade the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >term-limited governor&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s leadership from A to F, to which Steyer responded while laughing, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4497819\/will-chip-roy-fighter-mentality-be-his-political-demise\/\">Will Chip Roy&#8217;s fighter mentality be his political demise?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4498579\/buttigieg-plan-visit-weak-regions-democrats\/\">Buttigieg lays out plan to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/buttigieg-lays-out-plan-to-visit-weak-regions-for-democrats\/\" title=\"Buttigieg lays out plan to visit weak regions for Democrats\">visit weak regions<\/a> for Democrats<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4497871\/sabato-crystal-ball-midterm-elections-governor-democrats\/\">Sabato&#8217;s Crystal Ball moves six gubernatorial elections to favor Democrats<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know. I think that people have come to really appreciate how Gavin has stood up for the state of California,&rdquo; Steyer told <em>California Politics 360<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>    <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rpZkKh5xlbk?si=Fd4FfVyCUgUW5Vwa&amp;start=1760\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>    <\/p>\n<p>Reporter Ashley Zavala pressed Steyer on declining to grade Newsom&rsquo;s tenure, and Steyer reiterated his decision not to. He added, &ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t followed it closely enough to give him a grade.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Zavala ended her interview by asking Steyer what three words he would use to describe California under his leadership. Steyer paused for a bit, then responded, &ldquo;Prosperous &hellip; Just &hellip; Shared values.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Steyer will be in the next gubernatorial debate on Tuesday, where he will compete against Democrats San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), and Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4499055\/leading-democrat-running-save-california-might-have-left-eric-swalwell\/\">Eric Swalwell<\/a> (D-CA), and Republicans former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. The University of Southern California Dornsife Center for the Political Future and ABC7\/KABC-TV Los Angeles <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/news\/california-governor-debate-2026\/\">are hosting this debate<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>California has a jungle primary, meaning the two candidates who get the most votes on primary Election Day will compete in the general election, regardless of party affiliation. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sos.ca.gov\/elections\/upcoming-elections\/primary-election-june-2-2026\">Primary Election Day in California<\/a> is on June 2.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4498859\/california-democrats-overwhelmingly-favor-gavin-newsom-over-kamala-harris-2028-poll\/\"><strong>CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS OVERWHELMINGLY FAVOR NEWSOM OVER HARRIS FOR 2028: POLL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Newsom has yet to endorse a successor. Currently, he is highly favored over former Vice President Kamala Harris for a 2028 presidential run among California Democrats, outpacing Harris by 19% from recipients.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> contacted Steyer for comment, and Newsom&rsquo;s office declined to comment on the gubernatorial race.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paraphrase:<br \/>\nDemocrat Tom Steyer, a candidate aiming to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, dodged a question about how he would rate Newsom\u2019s two terms, stating he doesn\u2019t know and hasn\u2019t followed the tenure closely enough to judge. He praised Newsom\u2019s leadership for California but refused to assign a grade. Steyer will participate in the upcoming debate with fellow Democrats Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, and Eric Swalwell, and Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco. The debate is hosted by USC\u2019s Dornsife Center for the Political Future and ABC7\/KABC-TV. California\u2019s jungle primary on June 2 will determine who advances to the general election, regardless of party. Newsom has not endorsed a successor. Polls show Newsom leading former Vice President Kamala Harris for a 2028 presidential run among California Democrats. The Washington Examiner sought comment from Steyer, while Newsom\u2019s office declined to comment on the race.<\/p>\n<p>55-character headline:<br \/>\nSteyer won\u2019t grade Newsom, says he doesn\u2019t know<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2632,"featured_media":2582982,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26059723276671-e1774291229871.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4045,4076,3728,4764,3678],"class_list":["post-2582981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-california","tag-candidate","tag-election","tag-gubernatorial","tag-newsom"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26059723276671-e1774291229871.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2582981"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582981\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2582985,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582981\/revisions\/2582985"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2582982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2582981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2582981"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2582981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}