Governor of California
Now: Governor verified October 12, 2026 · source (opens in a new tab)
Photo: Charles Ommanney, Office of the Governor of California, public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab), cropped.
Checked · How the record reads leaders · Report a change · Corrections
Of 3 statements on the record, 3 raised concerns about data centers.
Labels are applied by the record's published rules: two readings of each statement, and a third that reads its source where the two differ. Every label sits beside its statement and its source, and any label can be challenged through Report a change, with the correction logged on the corrections page.
What they said
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Governor Gavin Newsom said California enacted the strongest data center protections in the nation, aimed at increasing oversight and preventing electricity, water, and infrastructure costs from being shifted to local communities and ratepayers
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 23, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Benzinga (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "strongest data center protections in the nation, aimed at increasing oversight and preventing electricity, water, and infrastructure costs from being shifted to local communities and ratepayers".
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Newsom said: While the Trump administration moves toward deregulation, communities are left to deal with the consequences , higher electricity demand, grid constraints, water use, and pollution. With these laws, we are ensuring that Californians remain in the driver's seat , and that those profiting from data centers aren't doing so at our expense.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 21, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Los Angeles Times (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "higher electricity demand, grid constraints, water use, and pollution".
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Gavin Newsom previously vetoed similar water disclosure legislation in October 2025, stating he was reluctant to impose rigid reporting requirements without understanding full impact on businesses
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: October 1, 2025.
Primary Sources:
- Bisnow (opens in a new tab), trade press
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "reluctant to impose rigid reporting requirements without understanding full impact on businesses".
1 statement on file was labeled and is left out of the counts.
How they voted
No vote on a data center measure on the record.
Something missing?
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Data Center Record, "Public statements by Gavin Newsom", https://datacenterrecord.org/speakers/gavin-newsom, last verified October 13, 2026.
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Last verified: October 12, 2026.