Republicans are still reveling in their victory. But there are challenges on the way.
And Trump got hit with a legal threat that could change everything.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday a special legislative session to prepare for a legal showdown with the incoming Trump administration on hot-button issues like abortion, climate policy, immigration, and transgender rights.
Just two days after President-elect Donald Trump’s reelection, Newsom’s message is clear: California is ready to reignite its resistance. During Trump’s first term, the state led over 100 legal challenges against his administration, and Newsom is signaling a return to that defensive posture.
“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” Newsom declared. “California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive.”
The special session, set for December 2, will focus on increasing funding for the state attorney general’s office to support lawsuits against potential “unlawful actions” from the new administration and to defend state policies from federal pushback.
Newsom’s aggressive stance is aimed at making California’s progressive laws “Trump-proof.”
In typical fashion, Trump had derisively nicknamed the governor “New-scum” during his campaign, often portraying California as an extreme example of unbridled Democratic policies.
California, under Newsom’s leadership, has maintained its status as a sanctuary for illegal immigrants, supported gender-transitioning youth, and led on climate and abortion policies.
Attorney General Rob Bonta joined Newsom in this effort, affirming that “we stand ready to defend your rights and protect California values.” He added that the state was closely coordinating with Newsom and the Legislature to ensure it has the legal muscle needed for the battles ahead.
Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher slammed the governor’s announcement as a “shameless political stunt.”
“The only ‘problem’ it will solve is Gavin Newsom’s insecurity that not enough people are paying attention to him,” Gallagher said. “There will not be a single policy implemented in this special session that couldn’t be addressed when the Legislature reconvenes in January.”
Newsom’s resistance to Trump positions him as a prominent counterweight to the president-elect and potentially bolsters his 2028 presidential aspirations.
Newsom is term-limited in 2026, and Gallagher suggested his focus would be better placed on “fixing the crime, homelessness, and high costs” that might otherwise doom any future national ambitions.
California isn’t alone in gearing up for legal challenges. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James announced plans to prepare staff for “potential federal legal threats” to New York’s abortion access and gun safety laws.
“We beat the Muslim ban. We stopped the dismantling of the United States Postal Service,” James reminded. “We challenged anti-LGBTQ+ efforts. We safeguarded key environmental policies. We protected access to reproductive care.”
New York, she emphasized, “will continue to stand tall in the face of injustice, revenge, or retribution.”
Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker struck a more optimistic tone, calling himself a “happy warrior” but with a warning: “A happy warrior is still a warrior. You come for my people, you come through me.”
“Chaos, retribution, and disarray radiated from the White House the last time Trump occupied it,” Pritzker said.
“This time may be different. But if it isn’t, Illinois remains a place of stability and competent governance.”
Stay tuned to Prudent Politics.
