Salary and Controversy Surrounding Newsom Staffer
Isaac “Izzy” Gurdon, a long-time aide to California Governor Gavin Newsom, has recently grabbed headlines. This came after he told a national reporter to “quit” during inquiries about Newsom’s dyslexia diagnosis. A review indicates that Gurdon earns a substantial six-figure salary.
While Newsom’s dyslexia has been publicly known for years, the topic gained traction during his current book tour, which started this month. At the first event in Atlanta, Newsom engaged with Democratic Mayor Andre Dickens. He spoke about his condition and how he wants readers to approach the discussion of dyslexia in his new book.
Newsom remarked, “I’m just like you. I’m not better than you. You know, I’m a guy with a 960 SAT score.” This comment was met with online backlash, perceived by some as pandering to the Black community.
In the wake of criticism from Republican circles, Susan Crabtree, a national correspondent for Real Clear Politics, reached out to Gurdon to confirm Newsom’s childhood disability. Instead of clarification, Gurdon responded with, “With all due respect, please stop.”
This reaction only intensified the scrutiny on both Gurdon and Newsom’s office. Carl Cannon, from Real Clear Politics, voiced confusion over why those resistant to Trump would emulate his more negative tactics. It’s worth noting that Newsom’s office has been known to take a firm stance on social media, particularly against criticism from the Trump administration and others.
Gurdon seemed dismissive of Crabtree, labeling her as “not a journalist,” but rather a “MAGA blogger” focused on conspiracy theories.
A public payroll database shows that Gurdon’s salary has seen a significant increase, jumping from about $30,000 as an administrative assistant in 2019 to over $212,000 as a senior assistant in 2024.
Interestingly, some Democrats have praised Gurdon’s approach, including Bob Saladay, Newsom’s senior communications adviser. However, others in the party, like major donor Gary Tan, have voiced strong disapproval. Tan went so far as to call Gurdon the “most unprofessional person” he’s encountered in politics.
Earlier this month, Gurdon’s public image took another hit when he referred to rapper Nicki Minaj—a known MAGA supporter—as a “stupid hoe” on social media, citing the title of her 2012 song to defend his comment.
