California's homeless crisis could be Gavin Newsom's political albatross

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a possible contender in the 2028 presidential race, appears to be toughening his stance on issues that could follow him on the campaign trail, including homelessness.

Gov. Gavin Newsom told California cities this week that there “were no more excuses” for homeless encampments, a message he has repeated often over the years with little success.

Visible signs of homelessness still line sidewalks and freeway underpasses from Sacramento to Los Angeles, an entrenched crisis rooted in a tight and unaffordable housing market that grew worse in January when more than 12,000 homes burned to the ground in Los Angeles County.

Newsom, widely considered a Democratic contender for the 2028 presidential race, appears to be toughening his stance on issues likely to follow him on the campaign trail.

His "no more excuses" message included the suggestion that municipalities ban camping on public property for more than three nights in a row, one of several perceived moves to the center that the former San Francisco mayor has taken recently.

Gavin Newsom in Ceres, Calif. on April 16.Justin Sullivan / Getty Images fileOn Wednesday, Newsom unveiled a revised budget that makes significant cuts to reproductive health services and walks back his signature policy to provide free health care for low-income undocumented immigrants.