As their debate looms, Gavin Newsom launches attack ad on Ron DeSantis’ anti-abortion law

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NEWSOM LAUNCHES ATTACK AD ON DESANTIS

As California Gov. Gavin Newsom prepares to square off next week with his nemesis, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, he’s decided to deliver an eyepoke ahead of time. It’s an ad slamming the Republican presidential contender for signing a law that outlaws abortions at six weeks of pregnancy and criminalizes both abortion-seekers and their doctors.

“Any woman who has an abortion after six weeks — and any doctor who gives her care — will be guilty of a felony. Abortion after six weeks will be punishable by up to 5 years in prison. That’s not freedom. That’s Ron DeSantis’ Florida,” Newsom wrote in a tweet that revealed the 30-second ad.

Newsom spokesman Nathan Click said the ad — paid for by Newsom’s Campaign for Democracy PAC — will run during Sean Hannity’s Fox News show. It also aired on last Sunday’s NFL Sunday Night Football.

Hannity will moderate when the two governors meet at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30 for 90 minutes. It’s being billed as “DeSantis vs. Newsom: The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate.” The live broadcast will originate from Alpharetta, Ga., with no studio audience.

The attack ad comes as both Newsom and DeSantis are flagging with California voters in the polls. Surveys have recorded a dip in support for Newsom and DeSantis remains firmly behind former President Donald Trump in his bid for the presidency.

CARDENAS WON’T SEEK REELECTION

Via Gillian Brassil...

Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Paicoma, will not run for reelection in his solidly-blue San Fernando Valley district in 2024.

Cardenas, 60, told the Los Angeles Times that he was “just at the age where I have enough energy and experience to maybe do something [different] and have another chapter of a career where I don’t have to go to Washington, D.C., 32 weeks out of the year.”

He endorsed Assemblywoman Luz Rivas to succeed him in the interview.

Cárdenas was elected to the House in 2012, becoming the first Latino to represent the San Fernando Valley in Congress. He was first won public office in 1996 as a member of the Assembly, and later served on the Los Angeles City Council.

In the House, he serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee. He is a member of several powerful caucuses and previously chaired the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ campaign branch, the BOLD PAC. Under his leadership, the group’s fundraising prowess grew significantly.

But his efforts to lead the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, House Democrats’ fundraising arm, failed in 2020 and 2022.

Recently, Cardenas led an effort to establish a Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino.

Born in Pacoima, one of 11 children of Mexican immigrants, Cardenas told the Times he first ran for office because of the lack of nonwhite politicians.

The Bee reached out to a spokeswoman for the congressman.

CONSERVATIVE GROUP LAUNCHES CALIFORNIA CHAPTER

Two well-known California Republicans — Former gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder and former State Sen. Melissa Melendez — have landed a new gig, heading up the California chapter of the America First Policy Institute.

Though the organization bills itself as nonpartisan, the nonprofit thinktank was founded in 2021 by Trump advisers Brooke Rollins and Larry Kudlow to promote the former Republican president’s agenda.

According to Politico, the group is described as a “White House in waiting.”

A statement from the group says, Elder — who failed in his bid to replace Newsom during the 2021 recall election and unsuccessfully ran for president this year — will serve as chapter chair. Melendez, who left office in 2022, will be California state director.

“At a time when hundreds of thousands of people are leaving our state for more opportunity and freedom, the commitment of the America First Policy Institute to California demonstrates a determination few entities are willing to consider these days,” Melendez said in a statement.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“As we solemnly declare November 20 as Transgender Remembrance Day, we honor, commemorate, and memorialize those who have lost their lives to anti-transgender violence and their loved ones. Today is a tragic reminder of the unacceptable violence, discrimination, and structural barriers that members of the LGBTQ+ community still face on a regular basis, despite our progress towards inclusion and equality.”

- Acting Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, in a proclamation issued Monday. According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 26 transgender and gender non-conforming people were killed by violence in 2023 — 88% of them were people of color, half of them were misgendered by either the authorities or the press.

Best of The Bee:

• Two years ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed off on an ambitious plan to make a pre-kindergarten program available to California’s 4-year-olds for free. That effort, already underway, is an attempt to reduce learning disparities and improve outcomes for the state’s children, via Stephen Hobbs.

• A state agency is investigating Sacramento City Councilman Sean Loloee again, via Theresa Clift.

• The leader of the California State Lottery, which administers lotto games and raises money for public education, will step down from his role next month. Lottery Director Alva Johnson gave his two weeks’ notice by email late Friday night, via Maya Miller.

• Hundreds of California Democrats gathered in the capital this weekend for the state party’s endorsement convention, but one topic disrupted the entire event: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and how party leaders are responding to it, via Jenavieve Hatch and Lindsey Holden.

• Thousands of protesters in Sacramento Saturday carried a simple but forceful message: “Cease-fire now,” via Stephen Hobbs and Jenavieve Hatch.