Newsom bets on a national wealth tax to redefine Democratic economics

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing a national wealth tax as part of a broader populist economic agenda, even as he fights California’s own wealth tax on the ballot. The strategy aims to frame Democrats as fighters for a fairer economy and could influence his national profile ahead of a potential 2028 run; it also includes a proposal for a national public equity fund tied to AI profits and has drawn both sharp opposition and cautious support within the party.