When Ronald Reagan was sworn in as governor of California in 1967, the state had a population of 19,176,000, according to the Census Bureau. Eight years later, when he left that office in 1975, the state's population had grown to 21,537,849 — an increase of 2,361,849.

That was not an unusual pattern for governors of the Golden State. Under Reagan's predecessor, Democratic Gov. Pat Brown, the state's population grew from 15,467,000 in 1959 to the 19,176,000 of 1967 — an increase of 3,709,000.

This longstanding pattern of population growth in California continued through the terms of each of the next six governors of the state, three of whom were Republicans and three of whom were Democrats.

Jerry Brown Jr., who followed Reagan as governor of California, served his initial two terms from 1975 to 1983. During that time, the state's population climbed from 21,537,849 to 25,360,026, an increase of 3,822,177.

Brown was succeeded in his initial two terms by Republican Gov. George Deukmejian. In Deukmejian's eight years, the California population climbed from 25,360,026 in 1983 to 30,414,114 in 1991, an increase of 5,054,088.

Deukmejian was followed in office by Republican Gov. Pete Wilson. In his eight years, the California population grew from 30,414,114 in 1991 to 33,145,121 in 1999, an increase of 2,731,007.

Democrat Gray Davis then served as governor of California from 1999 to 2003. During that period, the state's population grew from 33,145,121 to 35,253,159, an increase of 2,108,038.

Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger succeeded Davis as governor of California, serving from 2003 until 2011. In those years, the state's population grew from 35,253,159 to 37,636,311, an increase of 2,383,152.

Democrat Jerry Brown Jr. then served a second set of two terms as the state's governor. From 2011 to 2019, the state's population grew from 37,636,311 to 39,437,610, an increase of 1,801,299.

When the next governor — Democrat Gavin Newsom — was sworn into office in January 2019, it seemed almost a certainty that during his tenure the state's population would exceed 40 million. But, according to the Census Bureau's latest estimates, California's population has not increased under Newsom, it has decreased.

In Newsom's first two years, California's population made miniscule gains. From 2018 to 2019, it grew from 39,437,463 to 39,437,610 — an increase of a mere 147. In 2020, it hit 39,527,808 — an increase of 90,198. Then in 2021 and 2022, it dropped — first to 39,152,927 and then to 39,125,347. In 2023, it moved up again slightly, but in the two years after that it dropped again, hitting 39,355,309 in 2025.

That was down 82,301 from the 39,437,610 who inhabited the state in 2019, the year Newsom took office.

What has happened under Newsom to reverse California's long-term trend in population growth?

The California Senate Republicans have posted a webpage listing what they call "Gavin Newsom's Top 15 Worst Flip-Flops and Fails." Among these is "Worsening Homelessness." "(A)s governor he has spent $37B in taxpayer money on homelessness over the past six years," it asserts. "To what effect? California became the nation's homeless capital."

Another failure the Republicans cite is Newsom's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Remember in 2020 when Newsom forced businesses to close, leaving hundreds of thousands of Californians unemployed even as he dined unmasked with his friends? We do," the webpage asserts.

"(H)is mandated school shutdowns caused major damage to California school children," it continues.

Then there is the price of gasoline. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in California is $6.012. That is the highest in the nation.

The California Senate Republicans also cite Newsom for not fulfilling his promise to build millions of new homes in California. "As Governor, I will lead the effort to develop the 3.5 million new housing units we need by 2025 because our solutions must be as bold as the problem is big," Newsom wrote in a Medium posting he made on Oct. 21, 2017.

Did he fulfill this commitment?

On Oct. 31, 2022, Cal Matters published a report headlined: "Newsom campaigned on building 3.5 million homes. He hasn't gotten even close."

"Just 13% of the 3.5 million homes he campaigned on building have been permitted, let alone built," the report read.

In January 2019, when Newsom took office, the median price of an existing single-family home was 536,830, according to California Association of Realtors. As of April 2026, it was $914,810.

There were many good reasons Americans were inspired to move all the way to the western end of the continent and settle in California, making it the most populous state in the union. It is, arguably, the most beautiful state in the nation. Its seacoast is lined with majestic mountains, intersected by scenic canyons and covered with ancient oak and evergreen trees. Its central valley, irrigated by abundant rivers running down from the mountains to the east, is some of the best farmland on Earth. The Sierra Nevada is the most majestic mountain range in the land, featuring some of the most spectacular canyons on this planet, including Kings Canyon and Yosemite.

It is not the scenery or the weather that is driving people out of California. It is politicians like Gavin Newsom.

To find out more about Terence P. Jeffrey and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators webpage at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Cedric Letsch at Unsplash