SACRAMENTO January 8, 2026 — California Governor Gavin Newsom has ignited online debate by asserting that Republican-led states like Texas and Florida impose higher effective taxes on low- and middle-income residents than California, due to their reliance on regressive tax structures.
In a 55-second video clip posted to his X account on January 8, Newsom, speaking from a podium in what appears to be the California State Assembly, defended his state’s progressive tax system.
“We built one of the most progressive tax systems in the nation—one that asked high-income residents to pay a little bit more without punishing those that are making less,” Newsom said.
He continued: “There are 11 states in the United States of America that tax their middle-wage earners more than the state of California. There are 16 states… that tax their low-wage earners more than California taxes its high-wage earners.”
Newsom directly targeted Texas and Florida, calling them “the two most regressive tax states for low-income earners” that are “hammering them more than their wealthiest.”
The post was captioned: “What you won’t hear on Fox News today: Texas and Florida are the REAL high-tax states. They have some of the most regressive taxes in the nation — hammering low-income earners more than the rich.”
The video quickly went viral, garnering over 80,000 views, 2,700 likes, and hundreds of replies within 24 hours. Many critics pushed back, highlighting that both Texas and Florida have no state income tax—a key selling point for residents and businesses relocating from high-tax states like California.
One prominent reply stated: “Texas literally doesn’t have income tax. You have the highest in the country.” Others referenced recent migration data showing California leading outbound moves, with Texas and Florida among top destinations.
Newsom’s remarks align with analyses from groups like the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), which consistently ranks no-income-tax states as more regressive because they rely heavily on sales and property taxes, which disproportionately affect lower earners.
The clip appears to come from a recent address to lawmakers, amid ongoing discussions over California’s budget and national economic comparisons under the new federal administration.
The governor’s office has not provided additional comment on the specific clip as of publication.
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