Portrait of Gavin Newsom
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Gavin Newsom on Healthcare

Medi-Cal expansion advocate (strong)

TL;DR

Gavin Newsom strongly advocates for expanding health care access through Medi-Cal while opposing certain private equity roles and addressing budget shortfalls.

Key Points

  • He signed legislation in February 2026 to deliver $90 million in emergency funding for Planned Parenthood after a federal funding prohibition.

  • The 2025-26 May Revision proposed cuts to Medi-Cal, including freezing new enrollment for undocumented adults over 19 and eliminating state-only long-term care benefits for that group.

  • In October 2024, Governor Newsom vetoed a bill requiring Attorney General approval for healthcare transactions involving private equity groups, suggesting the OHCA should oversee consolidation.

  • He signed SB 27 in October 2025, which strengthens the CARE Act to expand access to behavioral health services for individuals with severe mental illness.

Summary

Gavin Newsom has historically championed expanded healthcare access in California, notably by extending Medi-Cal coverage to more low-income and undocumented residents, which has resulted in over 94% of the state's population being insured. However, his tenure has also involved navigating significant budget challenges, leading to proposed cuts in his 2025-26 May Revision, such as freezing new enrollment for certain undocumented adults and eliminating some Proposition 56-funded services, despite his administration's stated commitment to universal access. He has also taken executive action to protect reproductive healthcare access, signing legislation to provide emergency funding to clinics like Planned Parenthood following federal funding prohibitions.

His administration has also focused on structural elements of the healthcare market, signing legislation to strengthen care acts and expand behavioral health services, while also taking action against specific financial structures within the industry. For instance, he vetoed a bill that would have required Attorney General approval for private equity group healthcare acquisitions, suggesting the Office of Health Care Affordability should handle such consolidation oversight instead. Furthermore, he signed a bill curbing private equity’s role in healthcare transactions, balancing market oversight with concerns over regulatory scope.

Key Quotes

I want to take a moment to address the governor and the state Legislature,” said Judy Mark, president of Disability Voices United, from the Capitol steps. “We know that you are not responsible for these awful cuts, but now the responsibility does lie in your hands. You have the power to protect us.”

We built CARE Court to connect people to treatment, dignity, and accountability — because care and accountability belong at the center of how we serve our communities.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Gavin Newsom's current focus on healthcare is split between expanding coverage through Medi-Cal and dealing with budget pressures that lead to proposed spending cuts. He has also actively supported reproductive healthcare access, especially in response to federal actions.

During his 2017 campaign, Gavin Newsom committed to leading the effort for single-payer health care, but this remains an unfulfilled promise. His strategy has since shifted toward addressing universal access through gradual Medi-Cal expansion and subsidies.

Gavin Newsom has signed legislation aimed at curbing the role of private equity in healthcare acquisitions, though he also vetoed a bill that would have assigned that approval process to the Attorney General. He supports oversight in this area but prefers a different agency handle consolidation reviews.