Calif. Gov. Newsom stumps for Biden in Castle Shannon, warns of Trump peril

California Gov. Gavin Newsom rallied the Democratic troops Friday at a new Biden campaign office opening in Castle Shannon, warning liberal supporters of the damage a second Trump presidency could do and encouraging them to get to work to defeat the former president.

Newsom, a Democrat and one of President Joe Biden’s staunchest allies, spoke to over 100 people crammed into a small office at the Lebanon Shops strip mall just over the border from Mt. Lebanon. He was flanked by local Democratic politicians, including state Reps. Dan Miller, D-Mt. Lebanon, and Nick Pisciottano, D-West Mifflin.

He spoke of the importance that Pittsburgh-area Democratic organizers will have in the outcome of the presidential election.

“With respect to California, we’re about running up the popular vote,” Newsom said of his home state, which for years has voted blue in presidential elections and sent its Electoral College votes to Democrats. “You’re quite literally about the future faith, future democracy. That’s your voice and that’s why I’m here.”

Newsom spoke for about 10 minutes and hit on several contrasts between Biden and former President Donald Trump. He said the November election is an “existential moment” for America.

The choice to re-elect Biden should be easy because Trump is trying to roll back many American rights and freedoms, like restricting abortion access, voting rights and other civil liberties, he said.

“Daylight and darkness, liberalism and illiberalism, this is not a complicated choice,” Newsom said. “We’ve got a former president in Donald Trump who is hellbent on bringing us back to 1960. He wants America in reverse.”

Newsom is on a swing through the Midwest and Pennsylvania, hoping to boost the president following Biden’s lackluster debate performance.

The California governor campaigned in Michigan on Thursday, and he is scheduled to speak in Bucks County outside of Philadelphia on Saturday.

Newsom has served as a strong surrogate for Biden and the Democratic Party over the last few years. He debated former presidential candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida late last year and has appeared on several cable news programs to boost the Biden administration.

A liberal who hails from San Francisco, Newsom was elected governor of the Golden State in 2018 and easily brushed back a recall attempt in 2021. He has since become a darling of the Democratic Party, particularly among liberals, and has been rumored as a future presidential candidate.

His style leans heavily on a strong distaste for Republican policies and current Republican leaders. When he was introduced as running the fifth largest economy in the world, Newsom said “eat your heart out, Texas,” which went over well with the Castle Shannon crowd.

He criticized Trump’s plans for broad-based tariffs on foreign goods, which he said would increase inflation. Newsom also said Trump’s immigration policies would lead to mass deportations and families being ripped apart. He spoke of Republican efforts to ban books and their success in stripping abortion access.

Newsom’s warnings of what could happen if Trump retakes the White House were often met with applause and agreement from the crowd.

He spoke about a 13-year-old girl in Mississippi who was raped and gave birth to a baby amid confusion about whether she qualified for an abortion under the Southern state’s abortion ban.

“That’s Donald Trump’s America,” Newsom said. “That’s the world we’re living in with Donald Trump and this Supreme Court.”

Newsom also spoke positively of Biden, calling him “a man of decency and character.” Newsom didn’t speak much about Biden’s debate performance or the rising speculation that Biden could step down as the Democratic candidate.

Instead, he focused on motivating Democrats to volunteer to canvas and hold events to increase voter turnout.

Many in the crowd said they were ready and willing.

Tim Ciogherty, 58, of Mt. Lebanon, said the urgency to support Biden and Democrats has only increased since the debate, and his focus is on canvassing and other efforts to ensure Democrats win come November.

“We have to get to work to keep democracy strong,” Ciogherty said.

After the speech, Newsom met supporters and posed for photographs for about 15 minutes while the crowd dispersed.

He spoke to reporters and said Biden should start hitting the campaign trail and just be himself with voters and reiterate his impressive legislative accomplishments. That, Newsom said, should boost his lagging polling numbers and help him win over skeptical independents.

Newsom said Biden has the opportunity to do that Friday evening when ABC will air an interview with the president, Biden’s first sit-down interview since last week’s debate.

“Joe Biden needs to be Joe Biden,” Newsom said.