John,

With the November election more than a week behind us, I want to take a moment to share some thoughts.

Like many of you, I am disappointed in the result at the top of the ticket. And I know many among us are nervous and frightened about what another Trump presidency means for our country, heightened by the news of his early appointments.

It’s so important we remain clear-eyed about what life could be like for millions under Trump. Plans like slashing Social Security, cutting workers’ benefits and extending workers’ hours, and rounding up and deporting millions of immigrants and separating families, destroying abortion access, and more.

We also need to reckon with the fact that many of Trump’s voters were reacting to the same issues we face in California. It’s easy to chalk up the votes of millions to anger and hate. What’s hard, but necessary, is actually dealing with the crux of the issues facing these voters.

In California, working families face stagnant earnings while costs continue to rise. The lack of affordable housing is leaving too many with uncertain futures. The top earners in our state are doing extraordinarily well, but millions are live paycheck to paycheck.

Many Californians -- even those as repulsed as I am by Donald Trump -- are still feeling disconnected. Feeling like things just aren’t adding up.

As California’s next governor, you have my word that I won’t allow anyone to use our state as a tool to play partisan politics with our lives and that California can remain a beacon of progress for our country.

As governor, our state will always be a firewall against extreme attacks on our state.

And as governor, I will make sure our communities are protected so they may reach their full potential, that things add up for all Californians.

More soon,

Betty