(The Guardian) Newsom calls California legislature into special session to ready for Trump's return
California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, has called the legislature into a special session to the prepare the most populous state for the fight against Donald Trump’s second administration.
“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack – and we won’t sit idle. California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive,” said Newsom, a rising star in the Democratic party who is viewed as having presidential ambitions.
Democrats are the strongest party in California, and control both chambers of its legislature in Sacramento. Newsom’s office said lawmakers would be asked to pass legislation that will allow the state to pursue lawsuits against the policies that Trump is expected to enact: The special session responds to the public statements and proposals put forward by President-elect Trump and his advisors, and actions taken during his first term in office – an agenda that could erode essential freedoms and individual rights, including women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights. A special session allows for expedited action that will best protect California and its values from attacks. The special session will begin December 2, when the Legislature convenes.
The Governor has outlined several urgent priorities to be defended in this special session by bolstering legal defenses against federal actions. The Governor’s proclamation calls for legislation to provide additional resources to the California Department of Justice and other state entities to pursue robust affirmative litigation against any unlawful actions by the incoming Trump Administration, as well as defend against federal lawsuits aimed at undermining California’s laws and policies. The funding will support the ability to immediately file litigation and seek injunctive relief against unlawful federal actions.
While Kamala Harris won the state’s 54 electoral votes and voters sent Democrat Adam Schiff to the Senate, California may also be where Democrats’ hopes of winning the House die. The state is home to several closely fought House districts, where Republicans have hung on to their seats thanks to split-ticket voters. Counting is ongoing in many of these districts, and it remains to be seen if enough Democrats can win to give the party the majority in the US House, and thus the ability to block Trump from passing legislation.
California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, has called the legislature into a special session to the prepare the most populous state for the fight against Donald Trump’s second administration.
“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack – and we won’t sit idle. California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive,” said Newsom, a rising star in the Democratic party who is viewed as having presidential ambitions.
Democrats are the strongest party in California, and control both chambers of its legislature in Sacramento. Newsom’s office said lawmakers would be asked to pass legislation that will allow the state to pursue lawsuits against the policies that Trump is expected to enact: The special session responds to the public statements and proposals put forward by President-elect Trump and his advisors, and actions taken during his first term in office – an agenda that could erode essential freedoms and individual rights, including women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights. A special session allows for expedited action that will best protect California and its values from attacks. The special session will begin December 2, when the Legislature convenes.
The Governor has outlined several urgent priorities to be defended in this special session by bolstering legal defenses against federal actions. The Governor’s proclamation calls for legislation to provide additional resources to the California Department of Justice and other state entities to pursue robust affirmative litigation against any unlawful actions by the incoming Trump Administration, as well as defend against federal lawsuits aimed at undermining California’s laws and policies. The funding will support the ability to immediately file litigation and seek injunctive relief against unlawful federal actions.
While Kamala Harris won the state’s 54 electoral votes and voters sent Democrat Adam Schiff to the Senate, California may also be where Democrats’ hopes of winning the House die. The state is home to several closely fought House districts, where Republicans have hung on to their seats thanks to split-ticket voters. Counting is ongoing in many of these districts, and it remains to be seen if enough Democrats can win to give the party the majority in the US House, and thus the ability to block Trump from passing legislation.
