There’s inflation – and then there’s Gavin Newsom’s grade inflation
Some Democratic candidates and supporters have given California Governor Gavin Newsom high marks for his economic performance, but critics argue these assessments ignore persistent challenges like poverty, high living costs, and population outmigration. A Pacific Research Institute report contends that under Newsom, California has underperformed nationally in job growth and lost ground in private sector employment despite temporary economic boosts. While the state briefly saw a rise in its share of the national economy post-pandemic, that advantage has since eroded, and domestic outmigration has increased since 2021.
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Opinion There’s inflation – and then there’s Gavin Newsom’s grade inflation By Kerry Jackson and Wayne Winegarden Published April 29, 2026, 8:51 p.m. ET Democrats running for governor in California have said in recent debates that Gavin Newsom deserves high grades for his performance –– mostly B’s, and even A’s. To many Californians, that sounds like grade inflation. Nearly one in five Californians are considered poor –– the highest rate in the country –– and giving Newsom high marks simply ignores the obvious. A lengthy Bloomberg article makes the astonishing claim that California’s “slick” governor is “an economic maestro,” arguing that the economy has grown 40% since Newsom took office –– conveniently ignoring that the overall US economy grew faster.
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