Kevin McCarthy blasts Gavin Newsom’s tenure as California governor a ‘failure’

SPECIAL-In an interview with Fox News Digital on Friday, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pointed to the exodus from California as evidence of what he described as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s failed leadership in the Golden State.

“What a failure,” McCarthy said. “You look at how many people are leaving the state, you look at how people view the state, you look at homelessness, you laugh [sic] The big companies that generated revenue here are gone. “We’re on a downward slope.”

California has led immigration into the country for six years. According to U-Haul. Many companies, including Chevron, Tesla and Charles Schwab, have also moved their headquarters in California to other states.

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Asked if he believed a Republican could be elected governor in the deep blue state, McCarthy said that would not be off the table because of California’s unique jungle primary system, with the top two candidates running against each other regardless of political party.

“If Republicans were smart and supported this idea, we could actually come out of the primary with only two Republicans,” he explained. “It’s not a sure thing, but it’s a unique strategy that could work. They’re not fighting each other; it’s an open primary so it gets more people coming.”

McCarthy went on to consider the 11 candidates vying to replace term-limited Newsom; seven of them recently participated in a debate in San Francisco on February 3.

Former speaker, D-Calif. While arguing that Rep. Eric Swalwell does not have the capacity to be the next governor, he named Democratic candidate and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan as someone who “can stand up.”

“You look at the Democrats, a lot of people are running and a lot of people are unqualified,” McCarthy said. “For example, Eric Swalwell is not qualified to be governor. In fact, he is not qualified to run for governor.”

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Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif. (left) and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan (right) are running for governor of California to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Marla Aufmuth/Getty Images for California Conference on Women)

McCarthy went on to discuss the GOP’s midterm tactics as Republicans begin outlining a strategy to defy electoral upsets that have been historically difficult for the party in the White House.

Speaking at Harvard University in November, McCarthy explained how the MAGA move Trump benefited from in the 2024 elections was not conveyed to his Republican counterparts.

“People think you can have what President Trump has. No, he’s earned it. He’s earned it over many years,” he said. “He’s dealt with people before, so they see the power behind him. You can’t just be blessed. You have to make money wherever you go.”

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Kevin McCarthy (left) and President Donald Trump (right) walk on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. (Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The former speaker highlighted infighting within the GOP, criticizing congressional Republicans for wasting crucial time trying to gain a majority during the government shutdown.

“They’re leaving it to the Democrats to do the talking, which is a bad sign,” McCarthy said. “They are fighting among themselves.”

He added that the record-long government shutdown was a mistake that wasted “two months” of the two-year majority. Republicans are currently clinging to a slight advantage in the House of Representatives, and oddsmakers say Democrats are likely to regain control in November.

McCarthy emphasized that Republicans should celebrate their political victories to have a better chance in the midterms, citing border security as an example.

“Why didn’t you go to the border when they secured the border? Why didn’t you show people that so many people were no longer crossing the border and that it was safe here,” he said.

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55th House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at former President Ronald Reagan’s birthday tribute at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on February 6, 2026. (Nora Moriarty)

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McCarthy said Republicans need to show Americans what they’ve accomplished ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.