California Gov. Gavin Newsom teared up Wednesday when announcing an expansion of the state’s Service Corps geared at recruiting young men.
“Forgive me, this is embarrassing,” he said, as his eyes welled. “All the noise, we just need to turn off. Listen to this, this is it,” he continued while wiping tears off his face.
“We’re all just sitting there, screaming and yelling at each other, everybody’s getting at each other’s throats, trying to tear everybody down, and how are we going to get out of this? This is it,” he went on.
The governor’s teary showcase was in response to his administration’s plans for adding 10,000 paid positions focused on disaster response, climate action, education, and community service to the state’s paid service force.
It’s one aspect of his executive order to help young men, under which he convened a summit on Wednesday.
Newsom said he was exceptionally proud but noted how cheesy his feelings might appear, at one point telling the young people behind him, “Look at me, I’m like a kid now.”
“I’m proud of the program and I’m proud of all you guys for being a part of it and for inspiring me,” he said. “It’s so obvious what we need to do. I’m just deeply proud of this.”
The Democratic governor has been on a public spree of appearances over the past few years, trying to win back young men, a constituency that shifted toward the political right since President Trump’s 2024 campaign.
Newsom has appeared alongside figures like Scott Galloway and Richard Reeves, notable figures who have advocated for young men.
He’s made multiple mentions of his executive order targeting young men, including in his State of the State speech this year.
“When we support boys and men, we strengthen families and communities across the board. California is empowering them to find a voice, opportunity and a sense of purpose,” Newsom said in a statement Wednesday.
The governor’s efforts to give men “purpose” come as he’s speculated to run for president in 2028, where the young male vote could have influence — as it did in 2024.