Governor Gavin Newsom loves to brag. California is the “fourth largest economy in the world,” “number one in farming,” “number one in manufacturing.” He’s always got a shiny list handy for Twitter, making sure people know just how “successful” his state is. But here’s a number you won’t find on his highlight reel: California is now tied with Louisiana for number one in poverty. Congratulations, Governor — you’ve finally brought the Golden State to its knees.

A new report from the California Budget and Policy Center lays it out clearly. In 2024, 7 million Californians — that’s 17.7% of the population — lived in poverty. To put that in perspective, that’s the combined populations of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. Let that sink in. The supposed “land of opportunity” is now the land of unaffordable rent, sky-high gas taxes, and dreams of homeownership that are just that — dreams.

And here’s the kicker: California actually hit a historic low in poverty just three years earlier. But instead of keeping momentum, Newsom and his one-party legislature did what Democrats do best — blow the budget wide open. Billions for health care for illegal aliens, billions more for homeless programs that have done nothing but make the problem worse, and billions more thrown around like confetti. Meanwhile, Californians get to enjoy the highest gas tax in the country, the highest state sales tax, and a cost of living that makes escaping to Texas look like winning the lottery.

Predictably, the spin machine is already revving. The think tank behind the report warns that “harmful federal budget cuts” could push families deeper into hardship. Translation: It’s Trump’s fault. Except there’s just one problem — these poverty numbers are from 2024, when Joe Biden was president and Washington was handing out federal dollars like candy on Halloween. That excuse won’t fly.

The truth is simple: California’s decline isn’t because of the federal government, or Republicans, or budget cuts that never happened. It’s because Gavin Newsom and the extremist Democrat legislature have turned the state into a progressive playground for failed policies. And yes, the voters who keep electing them share the blame too.

Here’s the good news: people are starting to wake up. You can only live in a crumbling, unaffordable paradise for so long before reality sets in. California may still be a long way from flipping purple, let alone red, but the cracks are showing.

For the rest of America, the lesson is crystal clear: don’t let progressive failures like Newsom export their disaster nationwide. California is the cautionary tale. Poverty, crime, unaffordable living — all gift-wrapped in a state once called the Golden State. If voters across the country want to keep America golden, they’d better stop Democrats from turning it all blue.