Category Archives: campaign finance

Newsom ex-Chief of Staff Indicted!

The NY Times reports:

The arrest and indictment of Dana Williamson, the governor’s former chief of staff, sent shock waves through Sacramento in particular. Though no elected officials have been charged, Ms. Williamson, a Democrat, has been one of the state’s top power brokers for years, having run the offices of Mr. Newsom and former Gov. Jerry Brown.

Most of the charges against her stem from what prosecutors described as a complex scheme to skim money from the campaign account of Xavier Becerra, a former Biden administration official and Democratic congressman now running for California governor. Federal prosecutors say that Ms. Williamson conspired to direct $225,000 from a dormant political account to Mr. Becerra’s right-hand man.

Two of Ms. Williamson’s associates also have been charged, albeit with only one or two crimes after agreeing to plea deals — the aide to Mr. Becerra who received the funds, Sean McCluskie, and a Sacramento lobbyist, Greg Campbell.

But because of whom Ms. Williamson and Mr. McCluskie worked for, insiders have been discussing if the unfolding case could now affect Mr. Becerra’s bid for governor — or even Mr. Newsom’s expected run for president in 2028.

The LA Times reports:

She also is accused of lying on her tax returns about luxury items and services, including a $150,000 birthday trip to Mexico, that she allegedly sought to pass off as business expenses, according to the government.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-11-14/dana-williamson-newsom-aide-profile-federal-indictment

The indictment.

Newsom cynically creates “Winter of Love” meme to get campaign contributions!

Corporate-controlled San Francisco Chronicle details how Newsom, who struck a match for gay marriage in San Francisco (as long as your spouse is not an undocumented immigrant) is now, as expected, cynically using this accommplishment to raise funds for his campaign (so he can sell out working people)!

“The ad also highlights Newsom’s efforts to bring universal health care to San Francisco residents and being at the vanguard of 2016’s successful Proposition 63, which banned the possession of large-capacity firearm magazines and passed over the opposition of the powerful National Rifle Association.”

Does Newsom have the soul  anything out of conviction?

One doubts it!

These are nice liberal messages, but Newsom also privatized parks and persecuted the homeless during his Willie Brown-facilitated two terms as mayor.

Will the gullible fall for this?

You bet!

John Chiang: Will the wonk win?

As Democrats go, Chiang seems to be a better choice than Newsom or Villaragosa. Jon Regardle reports:

Newsom and AnVil both have flaws. Each suffered a damaging extramarital affair, and Villaraigosa was a mediocre mayor at best. Plus, once you get beyond their key bases of support, you wind up with a lot of Californians who lean conservative. That may not be definitive in a June primary, but if Chiang finishes in the top two and moves on to the November runoff, you can see him as more palatable to Republicans in places such as Bakersfield and Orange County.

Chiang seems ready to swing big. By all accounts he is willing to do do the work the governor’s race requires. His website is decent, even if the main insignia, with a green badge-shaped outline around his name, looks like a pudgy arrowhead turned upside down.

 

“We can’t be great going forward if we have third-world infrastructure.”  —  John Chiang

The late San Jose Mercury News reported on Chiang back in March.