California Gov. Gavin Newsom Convenes Emergency Special Session To “Fight” Incoming Trump Administration

California Gov. Gavin Newsom convened a special session of the state legislature following President Trump’s victory in the 2024 election.

“Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation convening a special session of the California Legislature to safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration. The special session will focus on bolstering California legal resources to protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families,” a press release from Newsom’s office read.

“This is the first of several actions by the Newsom Administration, in partnership with the Legislature, as the Governor begins shoring up California’s defenses against an incoming federal administration that has threatened the state on multiple fronts,” it added.

“California is ready to fight. I just called an emergency special session to help bolster our legal resources and protect our state against any unlawful actions by the incoming Trump Administration. Whether it be our fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, or climate action — we refuse to turn back the clock and allow our values and laws to be attacked,” Newsom said.

California is ready to fight.

I just called an emergency special session to help bolster our legal resources and protect our state against any unlawful actions by the incoming Trump Administration.

Whether it be our fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, or climate… pic.twitter.com/fIBPKsehot

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) November 7, 2024

Per Newsom’s office:

The special session responds to the public statements and proposals put forward by President-elect Trump and his advisors, and actions taken during his first term in office — an agenda that could erode essential freedoms and individual rights, including women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights. A special session allows for expedited action that will best protect California and its values from attacks. The special session will begin December 2, when the Legislature convenes.

The Governor has outlined several urgent priorities to be defended in this special session by bolstering legal defenses against federal actions. The Governor’s proclamation calls for legislation to provide additional resources to the California Department of Justice and other state entities to pursue robust affirmative litigation against any unlawful actions by the incoming Trump Administration, as well as defend against federal lawsuits aimed at undermining California’s laws and policies. The funding will support the ability to immediately file litigation and seek injunctive relief against unlawful federal actions.

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BREAKING: Gavin Newsom is running scared now that Trump won, calling a special session to deal with issues like immigration and abortion: pic.twitter.com/L2tuhSoguc

— Max Bonilla (@outragedteen_) November 7, 2024

Gavin Newsom calls for special legislative session to “protect California values, including fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, immigrant families” in response to Trump’s election win pic.twitter.com/YPXDUoE64Y

— BAY AREA STATE OF MIND (@YayAreaNews) November 7, 2024

From the Los Angeles Times:

The new special session provides an early look at Newsom’s plan to wage an aggressive and highly visible campaign to shield California from the Trump White House.

The governor’s move is largely symbolic: Lawmakers will likely pass the legislation at the same speed as they could have through the regular process.

But the swift call to action allows Newsom to draw attention to himself and California in the national culture wars and has the practical effect of focusing the state Legislature’s attention on his priority of defending against Trump. Republicans were quick to call it nothing more than a theatrical move.

“This special session is a shameless political stunt. The only ‘problem’ it will solve is Gavin Newsom’s insecurity that not enough people are paying attention to him,” Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher said in a statement.

In an interview in Orange County on Sunday, the Democratic governor warned that California will be dealing with a different Trump than the politician who won the presidency in 2016.

“This is the revenge and retribution 2.0 version,” Newsom said.

Read the full proclamation: