Newsom Reacts to Federal Investigation with Fundraising Push
Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom raised concerns after President Donald Trump initiated a federal investigation involving him, his wife, and their associates. Interestingly, those close to Newsom might have interpreted the situation quite differently—perhaps hearing a “cha-ching!” sound instead.
Shortly after releasing a video accusing Trump of using the Justice Department for political ends, Newsom’s political action committee sent out a fundraising email. They were seeking contributions for his potential legal defense and political maneuvers. This seems to be just another way the PAC is boosting Newsom’s profile through various means—mass text campaigns, book tours, merchandise sales, and podcast promotions—all while funneling money to his allies.
While officials close to Newsom weren’t specific about the amount raised in the past week, federal records indicate that he’s drawn millions for digital ads to elevate his national standing.
In fact, Newsom has allocated hundreds of thousands in PAC funds to pay both current and former staffers, along with over $90,000 for podcast-related costs. He also undertook a book tour and spent more than $1.5 million to buy copies of his memoir, “Youth in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery.”
By the end of March, Newsom’s Democracy Movement PAC had accumulated about $7.7 million in cash. Combined with two other groups, the total in his federal war chest reached approximately $14.5 million.
This PAC, formed earlier in 2023, has been aggressively spending on political advertising and polls, supporting other Democratic candidates to raise Newsom’s profile ahead of a likely presidential run in 2028.
Among the top recipients of PAC funds is Aisle 518 Strategies, which has received over $4.5 million. Additionally, significant amounts went to BearStar Strategies, a consultancy with a long history of working with Newsom.
A notable aspect of the funding included over $800,000 for a text message campaign backing Joe Biden just before he dropped out of the 2024 race due to health issues.
In terms of compensation, Lindsey Cobia, who previously worked as a senior adviser to Newsom and acts as treasurer for the PACs, received around $334,000 in payments during 2025. This included a substantial salary and bonuses in December. Others, like Abigail Prizmich from the Sacramento Kings, also benefited financially, earning tens of thousands from the PAC.
Despite not commenting on recent fundraising, Izzy Gurdon, Newsom’s chief press secretary, appears to be involved in PAC activities. Brandon Richards, another governor’s office correspondent, also received funds from the PAC in recent months.
The Democracy Action PAC plans to challenge Trump and actively participate in the upcoming 2026 midterms.
Meanwhile, financial matters extend to Mackenzie Smith, who was linked to Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s project and received travel reimbursements from the political campaign.
A political communications professor observed that while these PAC fund usages may be legally acceptable, they reflect a type of behavior that could rankle voters. Newsom’s tactical shift to a more aggressive stance before the investigation was announced may help him frame the narrative in partisan terms.
“Essentially, Newsom is urging people to judge him not based on his actions but on his opponents,” he noted.
In addition, records show that the political committee helped pay for the publication of Newsom’s memoir, even promoting knee pads featuring Trump’s signature.
Money was spent renting venues for his book promotion across various cities and making bulk purchases of his book from a Milwaukee company.
Overall, the spending reached national levels, impacting bookstores in cities from San Francisco to Brooklyn. In terms of personal finances, Newsom reported receiving over $100,000 in publication fees and royalties this past March. It remains uncertain whether the PAC’s purchase of his memoir impacted his earnings in royalties.
