SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom will kick off his second and remaining time period on Friday by contrasting his management of the nation’s largest Democratic stronghold with Republican leaders he’s branded as threats to freedom and democracy — together with former President Donald Trump.

Newsom’s inaugural ceremonies will start with a morning march via downtown Sacramento to the state Capitol. The date — Jan. 6 — was chosen deliberately to mark the second anniversary of the violent assault by Trump supporters on the U.S. Capitol in an try and halt Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden as president.

The occasion is supposed to “stand in peaceable distinction to the violent revolt and assault on our democracy which occurred two years in the past,” Newsom’s marketing campaign stated.

His second time period formally started Monday. The deliberate outside ceremony Friday comes amid a collection of large storms that introduced heavy rain, snow and intense winds throughout the state. The deluge prompted Newsom to declare a state of emergency and provided a reminder of the bread-and-butter work of governing the nation’s most populous state.

As Newsom seeks to place California on the heart of the nationwide political dialog, he’ll even be challenged to put out a imaginative and prescient for his second time period. He’ll face headwinds within the type of a finances deficit, an unmitigated homeless disaster and drought which will persist regardless of the storms. And he’ll go to battle with the oil business as he pushes lawmakers to impose fines on firm income.

Newsom started his first time period in 2019 with Trump as a transparent foil in Washington. With Biden now within the White Home, Newsom has pivoted his fireplace towards fellow governors Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas, each Republicans. He’s chided fellow Democrats for not being aggressive sufficient in standing as much as Republicans and has taken the combat to GOP states himself — even launching adverts in different states that trash GOP insurance policies and promote California as a protected place for ladies to hunt abortion.

Each Newsom and DeSantis are extensively seen as future presidential contenders, although maybe not in opposition to one another. Newsom has dedicated to supporting Biden if the president seeks a second time period, as he at present plans to do. DeSantis, in the meantime, has not dominated out a 2024 run — whilst Trump seeks a return to the White Home.

Their competing visions of governance — together with how greatest to advertise “freedom” — showcase the political polarization that’s taken maintain throughout the nation. In his personal inaugural deal with Tuesday, DeSantis touched on nationwide points like immigration and inflation, and decried “wokeness.”

“They’ve two starkly completely different philosophies on find out how to run a state and that alternative shall be on the poll in some unspecified time in the future, whether or not its both a type of two or people of their events,” stated Invoice Burton, a California political marketing consultant who was a spokesman for former President Barack Obama.

The continued drama in Washington that has saved GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a fellow Californian, from securing the speakership within the U.S. Home additionally boosts Newsom’s argument that Democrats are higher at governing, stated Kim Nalder, a professor of political science on the California State College, Sacramento.

“His narrative that he’s attempting to create is: Look how significantly better issues might be if Democrats ran the political world,” she stated.

The California Republican Get together had a special interpretation, noting that extra individuals are leaving California than shifting to the state.

“Whereas we are able to solely hope that Newsom spends slightly extra time in his second time period coping with the issues he created within the Golden State, we count on he’ll be far too busy chasing laughable White Home fantasies and lashing out at pink states that numerous former Californians at the moment are calling dwelling,” Jessica Millan Patterson, chairwoman of the get together, stated in a press release.

However Californians have twice bolstered their assist for Newsom previously 15 months: first in a 2021 recall try that failed and once more final November, when he handily gained his second time period.

Newsom’s first time period was dominated by wildfires, a significant utility chapter and the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed greater than 100,000 Californians, and prompted monthslong shut downs of companies and colleges. However he was additionally handed a large finances surplus that allowed him to take a position tens of billions within the setting, schooling, youngster care and well being care.

However he enters his second time period with a projected $25 billion finances deficit, which limits what Newsom can spend on and should power finances cuts. He’ll provide his first glimpse at spending priorities subsequent week.

He’s additionally equipped for a significant combat with the oil business, convincing the Legislature to launch a particular session to think about a brand new effective on oil firm income. Gasoline costs climbed above $6 per gallon in California, which is effectively above the nationwide common.

California remains to be among the many prime oil-producing states and the business continues to carry some sway within the Legislature amongst lawmakers, together with Democrats, who characterize oil-rich elements of the state. Newsom, although, has made clear that he needs the state to section out oil and gasoline in favor of extra climate-friendly power sources.

The potential finances deficit specifically could power Newsom to show extra of his consideration again dwelling if he hopes to keep up the sturdy assist he’s up to now loved, stated Sarah Hill, a professor of political science on the California State College, Fullerton, who focuses on state politics.

“If he nonetheless is form of enjoying this nationwide stage whereas the state is hurting fiscally they usually’re having to make cuts, I don’t assume that can play effectively,” she stated.