鈥淲e are mindful that we鈥檙e going to have to be more proactive as a state in terms of our efforts in Washington, D.C.鈥�
That was Gov. Gavin Newsom鈥檚 delicately worded assessment of how California might fare differently under Kevin McCarthy 鈥� the Bakersfield Republican after 鈥� than it did under Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the San Francisco Democrat who announced Thursday that she plans to even while remaining in Congress.
During a Thursday press conference in Napa Valley to highlight California鈥檚 firefighting investments and announce that , Newsom said 鈥渘o one has been more consequential in modern American history鈥� as House speaker than Pelosi.
- Newsom: 鈥淒on鈥檛 take people like Nancy Pelosi for granted. 鈥� The amount of things Nancy Pelosi鈥檚 done behind the scenes during the Trump years to stop cuts, draconian impacts on the people of the state of California, you won鈥檛 have enough tape, even if it鈥檚 digital, for me to illuminate and highlight just those few years.鈥�
- He added: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 expect a lot of support coming from the Republican caucus, if past is prologue. We鈥檙e gonna have to be creative.鈥�
McCarthy, meanwhile, that Pelosi chose to make her announcement now because 鈥渟he just doesn鈥檛 want to hand me the gavel.鈥� Instead, the incoming Democratic House minority leader 鈥� 鈥� will handle the formal transition of power.
Although Pelosi said she plans to continue serving in Congress 鈥� she was just reelected to another two-year term ending in 2024 鈥� her decision to step down from a leadership role is likely to intensify to succeed her.
Also brewing in the background: a fight to replace Dianne Feinstein, another San Franciscan, in the U.S. Senate. Feinstein, who , has not yet indicated whether she plans to seek reelection after her current term ends in 2024, but officials are already angling for a seat that hasn鈥檛 been open since 1992 鈥� especially amid reports of .
- Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of Los Angeles, for example, decided not to seek a House leadership post and is instead focusing on a potential Senate bid, .
鈥淒on鈥檛 ever count her out,鈥� Newsom said Thursday of Feinstein. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 care what the pundits are saying. 鈥� She still commands a room, commands our respect, and I don鈥檛 expect her to resign.鈥�
During his 2021 anti-recall campaign, Newsom pledged to appoint a Black woman to Feinstein鈥檚 seat if she were to resign before her term ended. (He , to replace Kamala Harris after she was elected vice president.) But , prompting Newsom to walk back his comments.
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