California Democratic governor Gavin Newsom reinforced his trend of violating his own restrictions by vacationing with his family this week in a state he placed on a no-travel list last year, CalMatters reported on Tuesday.
Newsom in July 2021 barred state-funded travel to 20 states including Montana, citing laws in the states that prohibit biological males from competing in girl’s school sports. Newsom spokesman Anthony York said the vacation to an in-law’s ranch was not state-funded but did not comment on whether a security detail joined the governor’s family.
Newsom has a history of flouting restrictions he has imposed as governor. He attended a birthday party with a dozen unmasked people in November 2020, even as he urged Californians to stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19. Newsom said in March 2021 he could relate to parents with children in virtual school, while his own kids had returned to private school for in-person learning. Last summer, the governor sent his son to basketball camp maskless, though state rules required face coverings in "youth settings."
California first restricted state-funded travel for states with "discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation" in 2016 under former Democratic governor Jerry Brown. Newsom added Montana, Arkansas, Florida, North Dakota, and West Virginia in 2021. California attorney general Rob Bonta (D.) has since added four more—Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana, and Utah—last week.
Newsom has hinted at a potential presidential bid in 2024, running ads in Florida against Gov. Ron DeSantis (R., Fla.), a potential presidential frontrunner, that urged Sunshine State residents to pack their bags and head for the Golden State.