Sacramento, CA – Governor Gavin Newsom today took the oath of office, officially swearing in as the 40th Governor of California. Governor Newsom’s swearing in marks the beginning of his tenure in office and offers a crucial opportunity for California to continue its stewardship of the state’s natural resources and protection of every Californian’s right to get outdoors.  

California State Parks Foundation Executive Director Rachel Norton offered the following statement on today’s inauguration: 

“We are thrilled to welcome Governor Gavin Newsom and look forward to working with him to prioritize policies promoting access to California’s 280 state parks to ensure that everyone, especially youth, can benefit from our outdoor spaces. 

“Governor Newsom has a demonstrated track record of leadership on equity issues and has articulated a clear focus on childhood development – both of which align with California State Parks Foundation’s efforts to bring more Californians of all backgrounds to our state parks, so they can discover the health, education and quality of life benefits our parks offer.”