California governor's dyslexia in the news (again)
What spins about reading-spelling problems are appearing in news media?
Politician, pundits, and others criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for comments he made in an interview with Atlanta (GA) mayor Andre Dickens 22 February 2026. About 27 minutes into the interview Governor Newsom said (I hope my transcription is accurate),
I’m not trying to be someone I’m not. I can’t do that any more. I tried that for a long time, and I wasn’t happy. And I say to kids all the time, “Learn from, don’t follow others.” You know. Your expression’s unique. Nobody else has it. And…I’m really, just…you know…The way we’re doing…some of you may have seen some of my social media…[chuckle] you know…I’m on the—you know this—I’m on the other side. I just am. I am on the other side. I don’t want to dream or regret anything…no coulda-woulda-shoulda. I’m not trying to impress you, I’m just trying to impress upon you, I’m like you. I’m no better than you. You know, I’m a 960 SAT guy. And, you know. And I’m not trying to offend anyone..act all there… if you got 940. But, literally a 960 SAT guy. I cannot… You’ve never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read a speech. May be in the wrong business… you know. My dyslexia…I haven’t overcome dyslexia. I’m living with it. I was the kid in the back of the classroom, my head down, just praying the teacher wouldn’t call on me.
Governor Newsom continued, describing how his mother concealed his speech and language problems from him so that he could not use them as an excuse, how he actually can read speeches, and how it is for him to have children who also have dyslexia.
But he has been roasted by detractors for his comments. News reports cite multiple examples of posts on X and Truth Social deriding Governor Newsom for admitting that he has rather average college admission test scores and dyslexia. The criticism often included characterization of his comments as racist or pandering to a Black audience. In The Hill 25 February 2026, Amie Parnes published an article that covers some of the criticism; it’s entitled “Newsom comes under attack from GOP, LGBTQ group on different issues.”
Governor Newsom’s comments are not new. His discussion about dyslexia recaptures some of his earlier observations about his personal learning problems. In 2004 Heather Knight of the San Francisco Chronicle reported about then-mayor Newsom visiting a school to talk about his experiences: “Newsom comes out: He’s dyslexic / S.F. mayor speaks of school woes.” The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity included Governor Newsom’s story among its list of “Success Stories,” in its book, Dyslexia: Profiles of Success.
Given that the interview that sparked public expressions of concern was recorded during Governor Newsom’s tour promoting his most recent book, Young Man in a Hurry, he must have done some reading. Sure, maybe dictated a lot of the book, hired someone to ghost the book and read the proofs, but authoring a book surely requires some reading. And, it’s not his first book. He’s also written Citizenville: How to Take the Town Square Digital as well as a children’s book about dyslexia, Ben & Emma’s Big Hit.