California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Nov. 7 announced that he is calling for state lawmakers to convene a special session later this year after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory earlier this week. Newsom said the special session will focus on safeguarding the state’s progressive policies around the climate, abortion, and illegal immigration.
The move came two days after Trump was elected president for a second, nonconsecutive term after defeating Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris, also from California. In his campaign, Trump proposed deregulating industries, deporting illegal immigrants, imposing tariffs, and more.
A news release from the governor’s office listed abortion, “immigrant protection,” the “climate crisis,” and LGBT issues as matters that the special session should address.
Previously, Newsom has called California a sanctuary for people in other states seeking abortions. The state has passed dozens of laws to enhance abortion access, including setting aside $20 million in taxpayer money to help pay for patients in other states to travel to California to get an abortion.
Meanwhile, the state was also the first to mandate that all new cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs sold in California be electric, hydrogen-powered, or plug-in hybrids by 2035, and to give state regulators the power to penalize oil companies. California also extends state-funded health care to all low-income residents regardless of whether they are illegal immigrants or not.
“No matter what the incoming Administration has in store, California will keep moving forward,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. “We’ve been through this before, and we stand ready to defend your rights and protect California values. We’re working closely with the Governor and the Legislature to shore up our defenses and ensure we have the resources we need to take on each fight as it comes.”
Trump’s campaign didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment on Newsom’s announcement.
The governors of other Democrat-controlled states, such as Massachusetts, Illinois, and New York, said they will also take special action after Trump’s win.
“Our team will do whatever we have to do to identify any possible threats to these rights that we hold dear in the State of New York and protect New Yorkers,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a Nov. 6 news conference.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said at a news conference on Nov. 7 that he will work with other governors on similar issues and will try to fight back against the Trump administration if need be. He made similar references to abortion, LGBT issues, and immigration.
Despite the special session, Tuesday’s election showed that Californian voters were more in favor of Trump this year compared to in 2020. Trump was able to flip multiple counties in the Golden State, including Orange County, according to a projection from The Associated Press.
Harris was ahead of Trump 57.3 percent to 40.1 percent, with 55 percent of the California vote in by Nov. 7. In 2020, President Joe Biden won with 63.4 percent of the vote, compared with Trump’s 34.3 percent.
Similar rightward voting trends were observed in Illinois, New York, and New Jersey, which have leaned Democratic in recent presidential elections.
In New Jersey, Trump was within five points of Harris, while in New York, he was within 11 points. In the 2020 contest, Trump lost by more than 23 percent to Biden in New York and incurred a 15-point deficit in New Jersey.
In Illinois, Trump lost by about 8 percent in 2024, while in 2020, he lost by more than 17 percent.
