Will Gavin Newsom Resign Over Los Angeles Fires?

As devastating wildfires rage across Los Angeles, questions are mounting about Governor Gavin Newsom’s handling of the crisis, and some are calling on him to resign.

But the odds are against him stepping down and experts say he is focused on dealing with the fires and determined to see the job through.

Newsweek has contacted Governor Newsom’s office for comment via email.

Why It Matters

Newsom is having to fight criticism as he fights the fires. The Governor’s political future depends on how he acquits himself in the crisis, and could determine whether he can stand at the next presidential election. Both Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass are facing the possibility of recall efforts.

All this comes as the death toll from the Los Angeles wildfires rises. Currently it stands at 25 people killed, with 23 still missing. The fires have destroyed more than 12,000 structures and scorched more than 60 square miles.

What To Know

Calls for Newsom to resign have escalated over the past week. President-elect Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on January 9: “One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground. It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum [sic] should resign. This is all his fault!!!”

A host of celebrities, including podcaster Jo Rogan, actors Mel Gibson, James Woods, Patricia Heaton and Sara Foster, and fitness expert Jillian Michaels, have also criticized Newsom.

One formal recall effort has already been launched against Newsom, while more than 100,000 signatures have been attached to an online petition demanding Bass’ resignation.

Newsom has launched an investigation into water shortages reported by services fighting the fires that have raged for a week. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power attributed the problem to an overwhelmed municipal system not designed to handle wildfire demands, especially with firefighting aircraft grounded by the Santa Ana winds.

Some residents have also blamed Newsom for the wildfires after he cut $101 million from funding for wildfire and forest resilience as part of a series of cutbacks, according to an analysis by the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office.

In a previous statement sent to Newsweek, a spokesperson for Newsom said the governor is “100 percent focused on the fires, ongoing rescue efforts and the recovery process—not politics.”

Despite mounting criticism, the odds of Newsom resigning remain low. Betting site Polymarket gives the governor an 8 percent chance of stepping down before April. On January 10, four days after the wildfires began, those odds peaked at 39 percent. Polymarket data also shows that the odds of Newsom being recalled before July stand at 7 percent, peaking at 28 percent on January 8, while his chances of resigning before the end of 2025 are at 19 percent.

Thomas Gift, an associate professor of political science and director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, told Newsweek that a resignation is unlikely, noting that Newsom “has his eyes set on the White House in 2028.”

What People Are Saying

Darry Sragow, an assistant professor at in the department of political science at the University of Southern California, told Newsweek: “Gavin Newsom is staying put. Those of us who know him know he is tough, he’s committed to helping his constituents and he is fully aware that the magnitude of the job ahead will take years of unglamorous work. Speculation about his resignation will just bounce off his back.”

Thomas Gift, an associate professor of political science and director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, told Newsweek: “Gavin Newsom has his eyes set on the White House in 2028. For that reason, and the fact that he still hasn’t admitted any personal mistakes in the handling of California’s wildfires, the odds of him stepping down are near zero. Of course, that’s assuming that any independent investigation of the crisis doesn’t point culpability in Newsom’s direction for governance and preparedness failures. Otherwise, the crisis provides a rare, if deeply unfortunate, situation for Newsom to show the leadership qualities that he claims to have.”

What Happens Next

There is currently no indication that Newsom is set to resign as California Governor. Meanwhile, authorities continue to work to put out the fires in Los Angeles and the city grapples with the task of rebuilding after thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed.