California is one of the 36 states in the country that’s set to elect a new state governor into office on November 8, 2022. In keeping with California’s “top-two” primary election system, Incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom and major challenger, State Representative Brian Dahle progressed from the state’s first non-partisan primary which was held on June 7, 2022.

Governor Gavin Newsom has maintained a very strong presence on the political terrain of California ever since he made his debut in 1996 as a member of San Francisco’s Parking and Traffic Commission. Eight years later, he became the youngest mayor of San Francisco at age 37. As mayor, he was a strong defender of LGBTQ rights and was one of the few who boldly chose to issue partners in the community marriage licenses. He continued this trend as governor. He has also been a champion of climate change and has been instrumental in restricting gas and oil industry activities in and around the state. Newsom also put a moratorium on the death penalty in the state and has codified several aspects of Roe v. Wade into California State’s laws.

State senator Brian Dahle who hails from Bieber in northeast California has spent much of his life focusing on forestry, wildlife, water, and housing issues. A member of the Quincy Library Group, Dahle is often constantly hailed for his affable approach to partisan politics. He was one of those responsible for initiating a regional forestry program to help combat super fires in 1998. Dahle believes that a more practical, feasible, and sustainable approach has to be taken with tackling critical issues like climate change. As governor, he plans to prioritize better forestry management and actively combat the rising incidence of homelessness and crime in the state.

And so, the question for debate now is who would make a better Governor for California, Incumbent Democrat Gavin Newsom or Republican Brian Dahle?