Gavin Newsom begs donors to fork out cash for memoir in shameless note: ‘If you can only give $5, great’
California Governor Gavin Newsom is offering supporters a copy of his new memoir in exchange for donations of any size, a move critics say could blur the lines between book promotion and political fundraising.
In an email to potential donors on January 31, Newsom described his upcoming memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, as “a good book. Very personal. Not your normal political book at all.” The book, set for release on February 24, recounts his childhood as the son of a politically connected San Francisco attorney with ties to the Getty family, as well as his struggles with dyslexia, his romantic life, and the origin of the nickname “Newscum,” popularized by President Donald Trump.
Anyone who donates to Newsom’s Campaign for Democracy Committee will receive a “free copy” of the memoir. Newsom noted that the average cost per book, including shipping, is $22.45, but added that any donation, even as small as $5, is welcome. “We just spent a bunch of money on passing Prop 50, so now I need to refill the coffers at my Campaign for Democracy for the fights ahead … and heaven knows there are many fights ahead,” the governor wrote.
The memoir, which stops in 2019 when Newsom became governor, is described as “an intimate and poignant account of identity, belonging, and the defining moments that inspired a life in politics.”
David Johnson, a public relations professional specializing in book launches, cautioned that using the memoir as a campaign incentive could backfire. “This move is a disaster for him long term. It reframes the book as a political trinket,” Johnson said. “It signals the book can’t stand on its own … it’s nothing but a campaign vehicle.”
Newsom’s Campaign for Democracy Committee channels donations to a similarly named political action committee, formed in 2023, which has spent millions on advertising, polling, and other efforts to boost his profile ahead of a potential presidential run in 2028. While the donation promotion could drive book sales, Johnson warned it might hurt credibility with independent booksellers and politically moderate readers.
Newsom’s approach follows a familiar playbook: previous presidential hopefuls, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden, published memoirs before launching national campaigns. Pennsylvania Senator Josh Shapiro, also rumored to be considering a 2028 bid, released his memoir How We Keep the Light last month.
In Young Man in a Hurry, Newsom describes growing up in San Francisco as the child of divorced parents, facing bullying over dyslexia, and adopting distinctive “Remington Steele”-inspired suits while attending Redwood High School in Marin County. In his 20s, he turned to self-help guru Tony Robbins to learn how to project confidence and authority.
Newsom is not the first politician to link book sales with campaign fundraising. In 2015, Texas Senator Ted Cruz faced criticism for using campaign funds to bulk-order his book A Time for Truth, spending $122,000 and leading the New York Times to exclude the title from its bestseller list. Johnson suggested Newsom could face similar scrutiny. “Some bestseller lists won’t include him, or others will include him with an asterisk,” he said.
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