Gavin Newsom announces special session of California legislature in wake of Trump's victory

California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced that the state's legislature will convene for a special session next month, regarding protecting people's civil rights and "California values" ahead of a second Donald Trump presidency.

Trump won the presidential election on Tuesday, over Vice President Kamala Harris who served as the California attorney general from 2011 through 2017. Trump flipped several key states to win his return to the White House, including Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

Although Trump won the presidency this week, Harris won California.

Newsom, who is considered a serious contender for a 2028 presidential bid, issued a proclamation over the new legislative session, which will convene on Dec. 2.  The governor said the session will focus on strengthening the state's legal options to protect "fundamental rights" like abortion and safeguard illegal immigrants.

“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” Newsom said in his proclamation. “California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive.”

The state's attorney general, Rob Bonta, promised to keep the state "moving forward," regardless of what the new presidential administration has planned for the country. But he warned that Trump has already threatened the state multiple times.

Trump has also targeted Newsom in his criticism of the solid blue state, and labeled him "New-scum," after he appeared as a prominent surrogate for Harris.

Newsom said some of his biggest concerns from a second Trump administration are efforts to repeal that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, attacks on reproductive freedom, and withholding disaster aid as political retribution, per The Hill. 

The session will also consider new legislative action on additional funding to the state Department of Justice, so they can better fend of any civil actions filed against them.

“I’m here today to reassure you that in California, progress will prevail, no matter who is in the White House, no matter who controls Congress,” Bonta said in a press conference. “In California, we will choose calm over chaos, fact over fiction, belonging over blame.”

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.