California Today: Gavin Newsom turns to Sacramento

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Gavin Newsom has made a national name as mayor of San Francisco when he supported gay marriage, going against the federal government and his own Democratic party. He later became California's lieutenant governor, a post that gave him little authority but plenty of time to prepare for the position he wants next: the governor.

Newsom is the favorite against his Republican opponent, John Cox. During his recent events, he has barely spoken of his campaign and is rather committed to supporting Democrats vying for Congress.

We spoke with Mr. Newsom in a series of interviews on his campaign bus. You will find below several extracts slightly modified and condensed.

Q. How do you answer the question of whether California is a success or a failure?

A. It was a success – an extraordinary success. Governor Jerry Brown's model, which is not on the verge of progress, is a new model for Democrats.

There is growing concern about the measure of economic prosperity, and California is an example to follow to justify a legitimate debate. Service economy, low-wage workers working full-time without benefits for workers, uninsured – that's where we struggle.

We have these highly paid and highly skilled jobs. And then you have a third of the population – I am defining a third, not for political purposes – who work full time and are close to the poverty rate.

Q. Homosexual marriage is the issue with which you are most identified. Do you think that your singular achievement?

A. It is a point of pride to have been associated with this movement. Everyone was running. It was lonely, but it shapes my frustrations with my own party, my willingness to be independent of my own party. The fact that I survived that – I was not sure I was going to do it.

Q. Do you see yourself as Governor Brown as a national figure for Democrats?

A. To the extent that you have this extraordinary pulpit, because California is hitting over its weight. So what Governor Brown says is important. It has always been important to know what governors have said in the past. You can move markets. The obvious point of proof is the automobile industry.

I think it's an extraordinary gift from this position. Not only resist Trump and Trumpism, but help shape the conversation. Immigration must be one of them.

California Online

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• New accusers and new evidence confronted Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh on the eve of a branded audition with Christine Blasey Ford, professor of Palo Alto who said she assaulted her in high school.[[[[The New York Times]

• A third woman made allegations of sexual assault against Judge Kavanaugh, commented on President Trump, and Judges Kavanaugh and Blasey prepared their opening statements. Catch up our guide to accusations and the fallout. [The New York Times]

• Judge Kavanaugh's former roommate in Yale – currently Executive Director in San Mateo – has sentenced the Supreme Court candidate. "Aggressive and bellicose" behavior at the university and stated that he was "able" to expose himself to a student. [The Mercury News]

• The battle against Justice Kavanaugh's confirmation spilled in the race in the US Senate between Dianne Feinstein and Kevin de León. [KQED]

• Senator Joel Anderson was reprimanded for "totally unacceptable" behavior after investigation revealed he was threatening a woman lobbyist.[[[[The Union-San Diego Tribune]

• If the Democrats regain the majority in the House, the representative Maxine Waters will get a new powerful platform for investigate the financial transactions of President Trump. [The Los Angeles Times]

• The new Salesforce Transit Center will remain closed next week after a second cracked steel beam was discovered during an inspection.[[[[San Francisco Chronicle]

• Hate crimes in Orange County increased for the third year in a row. [The Orange County Register]

• The man accused of beatings to death of three homeless men in Los Angeles had been expelled six times In the United States, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stated that his native country was El Salvador. [The Los Angeles Times]

• What is one? rent control fight at Mountain View does it mean for the rest of California? [The Los Angeles Times]

• El Segundo energy company headed by entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong announced that he has developed a Rechargeable zinc-air battery this could store much less energy than the cost of lithium-ion batteries.[[[[The New York Times]

• A former Google researcher, who resigned in protest, urged lawmakers to attack the tech giant. The company has changed its Chrome browser in response to criticism from security experts. But now it's Google's turn for questioning in Washington. [The New York Times]

• Uber Settled 2016 Data Breach Investigation for $ 148 Million and Pledged $ 10 Million to Help Cities Reduce Congestion and Vehicle Emissions – problems that he helped to create. [The New York Times]

• How has Apple prosperous in a season of technological scandals? Our columnist looks at how the company is held as a guard against a variety of digital wounds. [The New York Times]

• Nike was about to fall Colin Kaepernick in 2017. A year later, he made him the face of his new advertising campaign.[[[[The New York Times]

• U.C. The new Berkeley Universal Cloakroom is considered the first of its kind in California. [Berkeleyside]

• In memory: Jack McKinney, 83, N.B.A. coach who brought the up-tempo style of play that was known as Showtime to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979.[[[[The New York Times]

And finally …

Read the full story right here.

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California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.