Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom launched Campaign for Democracy, a political action committee focused on challenging state-level Republicans, Thursday afternoon.
The PAC’s website says it will fight against “authoritarianism” and “extremist Republicans,” and it features photographs of former President Donald Trump, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Newsom suggests these and other GOP leaders are a threat to freedom.
NEW: I’m launching a new organization, Campaign for Democracy.
America is in an existential struggle for democracy.
Extremist Republicans are systematically attacking the very foundations of our free society — denying women equality, attacking https://t.co/dhkSqoB0db… pic.twitter.com/cvdJu9mNro
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 30, 2023
“Authoritarian leaders are so hell-bent on gaining power and keeping it that they’re directly attacking our freedoms in state after state. We’re going to these states and investing in people and organizations that are fighting back,” Newsom is quoted saying on the PAC’s website. (RELATED: Gavin Newsom’s In-Laws Donated To Ron DeSantis’ PAC)
An ad for the PAC says Republican state leaders “ban books, criminalize doctors, fire teachers, intimidate librarians, kidnap migrants, target trans kids, stoke racism, condone antisemitism, force the victims of rape and incest to carry their attackers’ baby.”
The website’s language mirrors Newsom’s past criticism of Republican leaders, in which he emphasized freedom, patriotism and American values. His 2022 attack ad against DeSantis, for example, claimed “Freedom is under attack by Republican leaders in states like Florida.”
Shawnda Deane, treasurer of Need to Impeach, a PAC that was formed in 2017 to advocate for Trump’s impeachment, will be custodian of records for the Campaign for Democracy, according to the FEC. Lindsey Cobia, Newsom’s deputy chief of staff, will serve as the PAC’s treasurer.
Newsom did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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