Newsom to spend $19 MILLION in taxpayer funds on ad campaign to improve image of California

Newsom wants to spend the taxpayer funds to dispel “myths driven by misinformation and political rhetoric" in a marketing campaign to polish the image of California nationally, per the LA Times. This would also be taking place in the final months of his administration, as he has been weighing options to run for president.

https://twitter.com/tpostmillennial/status/2031423063384818046

The contract for the marketing campaign is in the bidding process. The campaign, driven by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, is seeking a contractor in a bidding window open between February 24 and March 13.

“California and its business climate have been falsely and maliciously maligned for years, and the state has a right to tell the true story — California is a great place to do live, work, invest and visit,” said Newsom spokesperson Tara Gallegos. “Setting the record straight will benefit every business, worker and resident of this state.”

Newsom is planning to launch the campaign despite his January budget projecting a gap of $3 billion in the next fiscal year. Newsom's image as a presidential candidate, naturally, is very tied to the success of California as a state, which may spark questions as to why Newsom is deciding to fund an ad campaign to improve California's image ahead of 2028.

Some critics believe that the push, using taxpayer funds, is just part of Newsom's potential campaign for president.

State Sen. Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks), who is also the vice chair of the Senate budget committee, said, "this is clearly part of the Gavin Newsom for President campaign, but what is most troubling to me is that this is a program to be developed by some private-sector contractor to define what is acceptable speech in the state of California."

Some negative aspects about California—high crime, high gas prices, high cost of living—could potentially drag Newsom down in a run for president.