California Gov. Gavin Newsom has spent a significant portion of his second term outside the state, with records showing dozens of trips across the country and overseas while promoting his memoir and attending events tied to political and official business, as reported by The New York Post.
An analysis of Newsom’s schedule by The Press Democrat found that since 2023, the governor has taken 45 out-of-state trips, totaling 229 travel days. That equates to roughly two months each year spent outside California, or about one-fifth of his second term.
In 2026 alone, Newsom has spent at least two weeks outside California, traveling across the United States and internationally as part of a promotional tour for his memoir, “Young Man in a Hurry.”
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He lectures Californians on leadership while the state drowns in taxes, crime, and chaos.Then he funnels $1.56 million of PAC donor money to buy 67,000 copies of his own memoir — roughly two-thirds of all sales — to fake his way onto bestseller lists.… https://t.co/Ox71jzIPrw— Tosca Austen (@ToscaAusten) April 20, 2026
The tour has included appearances at events such as the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, as well as visits to several cities considered key Democratic primary locations.
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The governor’s travel has also extended to Europe, where he made two major trips. These included a four-to-five-day visit to Davos, Switzerland, where he criticized President Donald Trump, as well as a stop in Germany for the Munich Security Conference.
Newsom also traveled to London, where he signed a clean energy agreement with the United Kingdom.
Financial records tied to Newsom’s political action committee, Campaign for Democracy, show substantial spending associated with the travel. In 2026, the PAC reported approximately $136,000 in travel-related expenses, along with an additional $58,000 for venue rentals.
Records also indicate $1.6 million was spent purchasing copies of Newsom’s book.
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The book tour included stops in cities such as Nashville, Atlanta, Rock Hill, South Carolina, New York City, Boston, and Las Vegas. Spending records from March show charges at hotels including the Intercontinental Boston, Le Méridien Fifth Avenue in New York City, and Four Seasons locations in Las Vegas and Palm Beach.
In Atlanta, the PAC spent $16,500 to rent the Georgia State University Rialto Center for a book event featuring Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. Additional expenses included multiple charges at the Candler Hotel in downtown Atlanta.
Federal Election Commission filings also show four separate charges of $657.61 at the Four Seasons Las Vegas, two charges totaling $4,346 at Le Méridien Fifth Avenue, and a $1,350 charge at the Intercontinental Boston.
The tour began in late February in Nashville, where the PAC spent roughly $5,300 on meals and lodging at the AC Hotel and Hyatt properties near downtown.
Newsom’s office did not respond to questions regarding the expenses or who accompanied him during the travel. However, spokesperson Nathan Click previously told The New York Times that the $1.6 million spent on book purchases “more than paid for itself” because the books were offered to donors and encouraged campaign contributions.
The governor’s travel schedule has drawn criticism from some observers. Marc Joffe, president of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, wrote on X, “Newsom has ‘quiet quit’ his job as California governor. In his second term, he is spending much more time out of state than he did in his first term.”
Newsom has quiet quit his job as California governor.
In his second term, he is spending much more time out of state than he did in his first term. pic.twitter.com/5hsfE45GHZ— Marc Joffe (@marcjoffe) April 20, 2026
In response, Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon said the governor’s travel “includes official state business, meetings advancing California’s economic and job-creating climate partnerships, political and personal activity conducted in his personal capacity.”
According to the Press Democrat, Newsom has made 14 campaign-related trips in 2026, along with 11 days categorized as official travel and three days of personal travel. His office has also stated that increased travel patterns may reflect a return to pre-pandemic activity levels.
Some international travel costs, including trips such as the Munich Security Conference, have been covered by the California State Protocol Foundation, a nonprofit affiliated with allies of the governor. When asked about costs associated with security during these trips, Newsom’s office said it does not comment on security arrangements.
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