The Ballad of Governor Gavin Newsom Verse 1 Out in the Golden State, by the San Francisco Bay, Rode a young businessman named Gavin Christopher Newsom who would not look away. As mayor he drew his six‑string and in a bold defiant act, He let couples of the same sex marry at City Hall, despite state law. Critics howled but time would show he’d led a righteous fight; Healthy San Francisco came next—health care for all within his sight. Chorus So ride on, Governor Gavin Newsom, with your Stetson in the wind, Tackling homelessness and building homes as one of your top priorities. You stopped the hangman’s noose by halting executions statewide, And you wrangled police reform to curb the deadly force they’d hide. A Western hymn for California’s son who stands up for civil rights and equal love. Verse 2 He headed to Sacramento and won the governorship in 2018, Swore to fight for universal preschool, gun safety, and justice for the poor. His budget was the biggest any state had seen — one hundred billion dollars for relief, Direct checks, housing funds, debt aid and broadband for folks in grief. He doubled the Earned Income Tax Credit and opened it to immigrants too, And he closed two prisons as inmate numbers dwindled, a reform long overdue. Chorus Ride on, Governor Gavin Newsom, with your boots dusty and worn, You push for opportunity for all and a healthier state each morn. From same‑sex marriage to cannabis, you’ve stuck your neck out every time, In this Western ballad your progressive trail gets woven into rhyme. Verse 3 But no story in the wild West goes smooth — there came a storm called “recall,” After he dined at The French Laundry while urging folks to forgo gatherings. The petitioners decried high taxes, homelessness and his moratorium on death, And soon signatures summoned a September showdown on his very breath. Yet voters saw the stakes and rallied; by nearly two‑to‑one they said “no,” And Governor Gavin Newsom kept his saddle and his reins, still running the show. Bridge He knows this range is rugged — wildfires, droughts, and storms abound, But he rides with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and four kids to keep him sound. He’s faced a posse of critics and still put a moratorium on the gallows, For in his code, true justice is kinder than the vengeance time allows. Chorus Ride on, Governor Gavin Newsom, across the California plains, With homelessness, health, and civil rights all pulsing through your veins. You weathered French Laundry blowback and a recall’s dusty gust, Survived with votes, not bullets, proving in democracy we trust. This Western song remembers how you fought and how you won — Governor Gavin Newsom, the lawman of the golden sun.
