California’s Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom is reportedly “seething” after being kneecapped by President Joe Biden on a farmworker bill in the state.
When Biden famously made Vice President Kamala Harris the “czar” of the southern border, political observers argued that he was trying to kneecap a potential rival for 2024.
As rumors continue to swirl that Biden won’t run for office again, or could be replaced as the Democrat nominee in 2024, potential challengers appear to be emerging.
Gavin Newsom, in particular, has been making moves that suggest he’s preparing for a run in 2024.
Newsom even took the extraordinary step of running ads in Florida to attack Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential rival if President Donald Trump doesn’t run.
That couldn’t have sat well with Biden who was wounded and sinking in the polls.
Biden saw his chance with the polls tightening as they do before the midterms.
In the clearest sign yet that he is running in 2024, Biden left the California governor “seething” after he kneecapped him on a farm bill.
According to Politico:
“Biden delivered an indirect but embarrassingly public rebuke for the ambitious governor by calling for passage of the bill, which would make it easier for farmworkers to unionize, as Newsom signaled he may veto the legislation for a second time.
“To add further insult, Biden delivered his message just before Labor Day as Newsom was preparing to buff his pro-union credentials by signing a bill vehemently opposed by the restaurant industry that will help set wages and working conditions for the state’s fast-food workers.
“The governor is privately seething over the Biden endorsement, said five people with knowledge of the governor’s thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose internal discussions.”
NEW: @POTUS Biden versus … @GavinNewsom?
We were used to seeing Newsom clash with Trump. But Biden's endorsement of a farmworker unionization bill Newsom has opposed opened a rift — and, @alexdrnieves reports, the governor is "seething"https://t.co/rP8cFLyflN
— Jeremy B. White (@JeremyBWhite) September 7, 2022
Biden said:
“I strongly support California’s Agricultural Labor Relations Voting Choice Act (AB 2183), which will give California’s agricultural workers greater opportunity to organize and collectively bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.
“Farmworkers worked tirelessly and at great personal risk to keep food on America’s tables during the pandemic.
“In the state with the largest population of farm workers, the least we owe them is an easier path to make a free and fair choice to organize a union.
“I am grateful to California’s elected officials and union leaders for leading the way.
“Government should work to remove – not erect – barriers to workers organizing.
“But ultimately workers must make the choice whether to organize a union.
“Unions transform how we work and live: higher wages, better benefits, like health insurance and paid leave, protections against discrimination and harassment, and a safer and healthier workplace.
“Unions built the middle class.
“And, unions give workers a voice. Workers’ voices are heard and heeded. Organizing or joining a union, that’s democracy in action.
“And it’s especially important today for Black and Brown workers whose voices have long been silenced through shameful race-based laws and policies.
“It is long past time that we ensure America’s farmworkers and other essential workers have the same right to join a union as other Americans,” Biden said.
