Byron Donalds sharply criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom after a video clip from Newsom’s Atlanta remarks circulated online, calling Newsom the “worst governor in the country” and questioning the governor’s intellect. In a post responding to a social media caption of the clip — which framed Newsom’s comments as saying he “relates to Black people because he got a 960 on his SAT and ‘can’t read’” — Donalds wrote, “Gavin is fake,” adding that “he’s a guy who was bankrolled by the San Francisco elite and who drinks Prosecco at the French Laundry while he shut down California during COVID.” Donalds continued, “Worst Governor in the country. I believe the 960 though, it’s clear he’s not that bright,” and concluded, “This is why California leads the nation in Americans leaving.”
Gavin is fake.
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) February 23, 2026
He's a guy who was bankrolled by the San Francisco elite and who drinks Prosecco at the French Laundry while he shut down California during COVID.
Worst Governor in the country. I believe the 960 though, it's clear he's not that bright.
This is why California… https://t.co/AT3QHwwNEz
The remarks echoed Republican criticisms that Newsom’s attempt to use his personal academic challenges — including struggles with dyslexia — to connect with voters had instead become fodder for political attacks. In Atlanta, Newsom had shared details about navigating school with dyslexia and his journey through the education system while on a tour promoting his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, telling the audience he was “a 960 SAT guy” who still lives with dyslexia.
Donalds’s comments go beyond the moment referenced in the video to broader criticisms of California’s economic and demographic trends under Newsom’s leadership. California has experienced persistent domestic out‑migration in recent years, even as its overall population remains the largest of any U.S. state. Census Bureau estimates show that in the year ending July 2025, California lost roughly 229,000 residents to domestic migration as more people moved to other states, including Texas, Nevada and Arizona. Over the longer term, research indicates that millions have moved out of California in the past decade, contributing to net migration losses that have shaped discussions about the state’s economic competitiveness and political influence.
Supporters of Donalds’s gubernatorial bid have frequently pointed to demographic shifts like these as part of their case for conservative governance, arguing that policies in states like Florida offer a contrast to those in California. Donalds, a U.S. representative from Florida, is currently the leading candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2026 Florida governor’s race, according to recent polling. His campaign has drawn national attention and endorsements, including backing from figures such as President Donald Trump, and has raised significant funds, reporting more than $40 million in campaign cash by late 2025.
As the gubernatorial contest unfolds, Donalds’s critique of Newsom highlights broader partisan debates over economic conditions, migration patterns and political leadership in states with divergent policy approaches.
