Gov. Gavin Newsom used his final “state of the state” address to pitch California as a beacon for the future — a double-edged sword at best for the 2028 presidential hopeful.

Gov Gavin Newsom’s last State of the State speech highlights housing mental health education and California’s role as a national model

The governor and likely presidential contender is battling against a “California crackup” narrative that has persisted for decades.

Gavin Newsom waltzed into his final State of the State address as governor at the California Capitol on Thursday morning with a swagger — slapping high-fives, giving impassioned hugs, and smiling and waving to the crowd of lawmakers with a John F. Kennedy-like charm.