Op-Ed: Corrin Rankin: Governor Newsom’s elitist energy agenda exposes his class warfare hypocrisy
The real class warfare is happening right here in California, and Gavin Newsom is the one waging it.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D., Calif.) talks a lot about “equity.” But when it comes to energy policy, his actions speak louder than words, and they show exactly who he’s working for. It’s not working families.
Earlier this year, Newsom blasted Congress for passing the One Big Beautiful Bill, calling it a “giveaway to the rich.” Just like with Prop 50, he says it does one thing, but behind the smoke and mirrors, it turns out to do the exact opposite. Here in California, his own energy agenda does exactly what he claims to oppose. It shifts wealth from low income and minority families to wealthy coastal elites.
That’s not a theory. That’s from his own state agency, the California Air Resources Board, which admits in their official plan that Newsom’s environmental rules will cost working families and benefit the rich. Under his policies, households earning less than $100,000 will lose $4.1 billion. Wealthy households? They’ll gain $3.5 billion.
By 2045, this gets worse. The poorest Californians are projected to lose $5.3 billion. The wealthy gain that same amount.
The racial breakdown is just as clear. Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, American Indian, and multiracial communities, 60 percent of whom make under $100,000 a year, will be hurt the most.
Meanwhile, the policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill, which Newsom opposes, would directly help those same communities. It cuts taxes for working families, expands the child tax credit, eliminates taxes on tips, and helps seniors living on fixed incomes. It also brings back opportunity zones, a proven tool to drive investment into communities that have been left behind.
And for the millions of Californians who rely on gas powered cars to get to work, the bill allows car loan interest to be deducted, real relief for people who can’t afford a $60,000 EV.
While Newsom pushes to ban gas vehicles, President Trump’s policies helped bring the lowest gas prices we’ve seen in years. That’s a real difference Californians can feel in their wallets.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about policy. It’s about priorities.
Newsom is pushing environmental rules that benefit his wealthy donors while punishing working people. He uses words like “equity,” but his policies are anything but fair.
California deserves leadership that fights for everyone, not just the elite. We need policies that actually help working families, policies that lower costs, create jobs, and build opportunity in every zip code.
As Chairwoman of the California Republican Party, I believe this state can thrive again. But first, we have to hold the people in power accountable. That starts with telling the truth about what’s really going on.
And the truth is: Gavin Newsom is waging class warfare right here in California, and he’s doing it under the banner of “equity.” It’s time to call it what it is and fight back with real solutions.
Corrin Rankin is the Chairwoman of the California Republican Party.