California Democrats Start Funding the Trump Resistance

Written by Chriss W. Street

Governor Newsom called the incoming 2025-26 Legislature into an extraordinary session after the December 2 “swearing in” ceremonies. The newly elected Democrat majority introduced 3 new bills that are being referred to as the “Resistance.”

Governor Newsom according to Jason Sisney, initially demanded legislation “to provide additional funding to the California Department of Justice and other agencies, departments, boards, and offices…to support the ability to immediately file affirmative litigation challenging actions taken by the incoming Trump Administration.”

California is the largest state and spends a combined general fund of $220 billion and the federal grants of another $300 billion, for a total spending of $520 billion a year

Three Legislature and Senate bills were introduced on Monday, December 2, 2024:

• SBX1 1 (Wiener) according to a Senate leadership press release: “includes $25 million in funding proposed by Governor Newsom for the California Department of Justice to bolster legal resources, and adds $10 million for County Counsels and City Attorneys for similar purposes. It also expands on that effort by including $25 million for Legal Aid efforts and legal services for local communities.”

• ABX1 1 (Gabriel) according to a press release from Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino): “will set aside up to $25 million in funding” in the state budget “to cover the costs of potential litigation” related to the new federal administration.

• ABX1 2 (Gabriel) also filed a budget trailer bill that according to Assembly member Gabriel’s office: “will immediately allocate $500,000 to fund initial case preparation” at DOJ. The bill includes findings and declarations related to the special session.

Governor Newsom claims that this $25.5 million “war chest” will be so frightening to President Trump, that he will be terrified and let California continue its antics.

To put $25.5 million in relationship to the state’s current spending pace, California spends about $59.36 million every hour. So that means Gov. Newsom’s $25.5 million “Resistance” is equivalent of spending a not-so-terrifying 26 minutes of the state’s annual spending rate.