Staff Reports
Gov. Gavin Newsom has put a curious item in his proposed 2026-27 California budget: $33,000 for an official portrait of himself to hang in the State Capitol. That’s the new development, plain and simple. While Sacramento talks about deficits and cuts, the governor wants taxpayers to pick up the tab for a painting of his own face.
What Newsom Is Asking For
The headline number is $33,000 for a “Governor’s Portrait” paid from the General Fund. It’s part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal for next year. At the same time, his budget also included a broader $20 million idea to honor living governors — a fund some colleagues on his own side call excessive. That is the immediate development: money for a portrait tucked into a statewide budget that many warn is not balanced and faces serious shortfalls.
Where the Money Would Come From
This isn’t private money or a campaign fund. The portrait would be paid for with taxpayer dollars from California’s General Fund. That matters because state leaders are talking about shrinking discretionary spending while warning of a big budget gap ahead. Critics say putting $33,000 into a portrait looks tone-deaf when schools, homeless services, and public safety are all crying out for funding.
Why People Are Angry
Republican State Sen. Suzette Valladares called the move out of touch, saying lawmakers should focus on families who are struggling, not a painted paean to a sitting governor. Republican Assemblywoman Alexandra M. Macedo pointed out the irony: billions were poured into a high-speed rail project that has produced almost no working line, yet now the state would spend thousands on a portrait. The reaction is simple — many Californians see this as a symbol of Sacramento’s priorities flipped the wrong way.
Big Picture: Pride Over Priorities
Gov. Gavin Newsom has every right to leave a legacy. But legacy usually comes from results, not oil paintings. When a state faces budget pressure, homelessness, and public safety problems, spending $33,000 of taxpayer money on an official portrait looks like pride before practicality. If the goal is to honor past governors, let donors, museums, or private groups pay for the pomp. Taxpayers shouldn’t foot the bill for a souvenir of career politics.
Final Thought
Sacramento loves ceremony. Californians love results. The new development — Newsom’s $33,000 portrait line in the 2026-27 budget — is a small story with a big message. If state leaders keep choosing vanity over value, voters will remember both the portraits and the priorities they say they had. Let the governor have his painting if he wants it — but not at the expense of families who are paying the tab.
