Newsom as Democracy’s Posterchild? No Thanks.

When Governor Newsom says he wants to "Safeguard California Values," does he mean he wants to make it impossible to solve their drug, homelessness, and border crisis? After the landslide victory Trump faced last week, Newsom has positioned himself as the defender of liberal values—not quite the guy you want for the job, but someone has to do it. When we think of California, the beauty of its nature and idyllic coastline seem to fall deep into the background as images of drug-ridden streets, homeless enclaves within city centers, and the issues of liberalism impress themselves upon the Golden State.

If the Democrats want to be taken seriously, they should not be relying on one of the most liberal voices in Politics who has control over one of the most liberal states in the country. Even in this most recent election cycle, we see major cities and traditionally left-leaning states fighting against the Democrat's agenda, with the Wall Street Journal stating that California "even became a Trump rallying cry: "We're not going to let Kamala Harris do to Ameria what she did to California!"

With all of this being said, it can be inferred that Newsom's path as the "anti-hero" will be overshadowed by the sheer failure of his time as Governor and American Liberalism's ineptitude at maintaining a sense of relatability and trust with the public. People want crime diminished, the influx of illegal immigration stopped, and the drug crisis dealt with—but these issues can only be resolved by someone willing to acknowledge their existence and find definitive ways of handling them.

We cannot continue to offer liberal leaders the luxury of guilting the American people into believing that it is our job, as the public, to care for individuals who come here illegally, are public deviants, or do not comply with American values. If Gavin Newsom is the vessel that liberals need to counteract Trump's upcoming Presidency, then it seems the left has failed to understand why so much of the country has turned red. Democrats need to shift back to the middle, and they cannot do that when the individuals they promote as their guiding stars are some of the most extreme the party has to offer. If the people within your state question the legitimacy of your value system, it must indicate that it is time to take a back seat and allow for the democratic process to ensue.