Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been sending some business owners cell phones with his direct line programmed into them, the governor’s office confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
First reported by KCRA3, sources told the outlet Monday evening that several tech executives received the phones, with some initially expressing concerns about their safety, as they were skeptical upon receiving the devices. Newsom’s office said the rollout has been ongoing since November 2024, with sources telling KCRA3 that they received their phones as recently as this past weekend.
“This was a creative idea of the Governor’s to connect more directly with business leaders in the state. The feedback has been positive, and it’s led to valuable interactions,” Newsom’s Communications Director Izzy Gordon told DCNF.
While it remains unclear which CEOs have received the phones, top business leaders from about 100 state-based companies are expected to receive their direct line to the governor.
Over the years, major companies like Chevron, SpaceX and Charles Schwab have relocated their headquarters out of California, with some citing the state’s policies and high taxes as key reasons for their departure.
Notably, the California State Protocol Foundation, a nonprofit, is covering the cost of the phones, according to Newsom’s office.
The nonprofit has previously supported the Democratic governor, funding four of his international trips — including visits to El Salvador in 2019, Israel and China in 2023, and Italy in 2024 — according to the Sacramento Bee. Founded in 2002, the organization helps cover expenses for gubernatorial ceremonial events, including inaugurations, State of the State addresses, and official travel, the outlet reported.
The foundation, which reports its finances to the California Fair Political Practices Commission, operates on donations made to the governor. In 2023, its revenue from contributions totaled over $1.3 million, according to ProPublica records.
Newsom’s office said that the phones were not purchased at taxpayers’ expense.
(Featured Image Media Credit: Screen Capture/ABC7 News Bay Area)
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