California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed “openness” to reforming the Supreme Court and claimed the Electoral College “perverted” politics during an interview with former CNN host Don Lemon on his podcast Tuesday.
Near the end of the interview, Lemon directly asked Newsom, a rumored 2028 candidate, whether he believed the judicial branch needed to be expanded, an idea pushed by several Democratic figures, including former Vice President Kamala Harris.
“My initial instinct — me, a year ago, I would have said no out of concern that it will continue to be expanded,” Newsom said.
“And I was making a case for the ethical reforms and term limits, 18 years, which I was making a case a year ago. I’m more open to it on the basis of those district court arguments, which are not terrible arguments.”
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR CLAIMS GOP ‘STOLE’ TWO SCOTUS SEATS IN 2016, 2020, CALLS FOR EXPANSION
“Is that a yes?” Lemon asked.
“I’m finding myself evolving on it. I normally have very clear conviction on things. I’ve been open to argument and interested in the evidence on this,” Newsom answered.
He described his position as “caution on expanding it, but openness,” adding that he believes reforms like term limits are a “no-brainer.”
The California Democrat had harsher criticism of the Electoral College, suggesting that it has “perverted” U.S. politics.
“California has already been a leader that’s already gone out front saying it’s time to change that system. Which state’s more burdened by it than my state? We’re the size of 21 state populations combined. Come on. And we have two representatives in the Senate? Come on.
“And the way that thing favors … it’s perverted, I think, our politics. The Constitution is a living document, and it was conceived to be amended, and I think it’s time to make that amendment,” Newsom said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office for comment.
Though Newsom has not explicitly supported expanding the Supreme Court, he made similar comments suggesting an openness to it during an interview with Brian Tyler Cohen on his podcast in June. Cohen was arguing in favor of court expansion, and Newsom remarked that Cohen was “getting me closer to your point of view.”
During an interview with “PBS NewsHour” on Monday, Newsom also said the Democratic Party is “pretty aligned” with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) on issues like universal healthcare, climate change and moving off fossil fuels. The DSA’s goals include eliminating the Supreme Court and replacing it with a judiciary that would be selected by Congress.
House Democrats recently voted against a constitutional amendment to cap the number of justices on the Supreme Court at nine. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who introduced the measure, warned Congress about the downsides of expanding the court.
“Here’s the question every American should ask: If a sitting majority can change the size of the Supreme Court the moment it dislikes rulings, what happens to the next time the other side is in power?” Biggs said on the floor.
