Statement: 3 Million Californians at Risk: Stronger California Calls for Bold Action on the State Budget

May 27. 2026

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SACRAMENTO—Following Governor Newsom’s May Budget Revision, the Stronger California Advocates Network and our member organizations urge state leaders to take bold action to raise revenues and protect essential services in the 2026-27 state budget.

The Stronger California Advocates Network (Stronger California) is a collaborative campaign of 70+ advocacy groups and coalitions from across the state working to achieve economic security and dignity for all. We are thrilled to see priorities from the Stronger California 2026 Policy Agenda included in the May Revise, including funding for Assembly Bill 65, authored by Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry, which will establish paid pregnancy leave benefits for public school educators. We also appreciate the Governor’s inclusion of some revenue-raising measures.

Even so, the Governor’s budget proposal ultimately fails to adequately mitigate the ongoing crisis created by federal funding cuts. As it stands, as many as three million Californians stand on the brink of losing healthcare coverage and food benefits. Access to other essential programs, ranging from affordable childcare to crime victim services, is similarly threatened.

The Federal Administration and Congress continue to attack critical anti-poverty programs while giving tax breaks to billionaires and businesses. California cannot afford to let these harms go unchecked in the Golden State.

Now is the time for state budget leaders to fight cruelty with compassion by choosing to put our communities first. This includes pushing for further progressive revenue solutions that will allow California to protect the social safety net when residents need it most. California would not be the fourth largest economy in the world without the people who live and labor here; it is only just for the wealthy individuals and corporations that benefit to pay their fair share towards ensuring the wellbeing of working families.

Stronger California advocates are speaking out about the significance of the state budget and impact that the Governor’s proposal would have on the programs and communities we support. Follow the included links to see more information and insight from our partners.

For a complete list of 2026 Stronger California policy priorities, visit StrongerCA.org.

From the Advocates:

“We believe that every person should be able to care for themselves and their families with dignity,” said Katie Duberg, California Work & Family Coalition, “California is the 4th largest economy in the world. No one in our state should be forced to choose between rent, groceries, seeing their doctor, filling their prescriptions or worry that they won’t have child care or eldercare. We call on the Legislature and Governor to embrace California values of care and inclusion in the final budget instead of compounding federal harm.”

California Work & Family Coalition Statement on the 2026 May Revise

 

“Governor Newsom and his administration included some but not sufficient funding for victim services in his revised budget,” said Grace Glaser, California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV). “The inclusion of $25 million in the May Revise is a positive step forward, but it will not be nearly enough to sustain the vital programs on which survivors depend. As the Governor’s May Revise noted, this $25 million would ‘alleviate’ service level reductions, but it would not eliminate the need for reductions. We call on the Governor to work with the Legislature to fully fund counseling, healthcare, shelter, and other essential services for survivors of crime with $100 million for victim services in the final budget.”

CPEDV Press Release: Governor’s revised budget includes $25 million in funding for victim services but falls short of what’s needed by $75 million

 

“Governor Newsom has promised from the beginning to prioritize ending child poverty, and we are glad to see him ask corporations to pay more of their fair share to mitigate the harm from the avalanche of cruel cuts coming out of Washington,” said Shimica Gaskins, President and CEO of End Child Poverty California powered by GRACE. “This blueprint offers a good starting point for negotiation but there is more work to do. Elected leaders must build on this plan even more to counteract the federal rollbacks so California can lead the nation in ensuring that no child ever goes hungry in the richest nation on the planet.”

End Child Poverty California Encouraged By Governor’s Plan to Add New Revenues

 

“Health care for all Californians, no matter where they were born, is not just ‘math,’” said Diana Douglas, Director of Policy & Legislative Advocacy at Health Access California. “It’s the way we ensure healthy futures for everyone: keeping workers at their jobs, kids in schools, and families thriving. It keeps our health system strong by encouraging preventative care, and it keeps people out of emergency rooms. When Trump attacks our core values, we must fight back and hold fast to those values. We urge the State Legislature to reject these unnecessary cuts and raise revenue that backfills the federal cuts to our care.”

Health Access California Press Release: Following Governor Newsom’s May Revision, Health Advocates Call on Legislature to Prioritize California Health Consumers in the State Budget

 

“California is the fourth-largest economy in the world, and it is powered by child care providers, low-wage workers, immigrants, and working families,” said Mary Ignatius, Executive Director, Parent Voices CA. “They deserve to share in the prosperity they help create, not be left behind and punished. The Governor should identify every available revenue option [to keep his promise of establishing 200,000 new affordable child care spaces], like closing the Water’s Edge corporate tax loophole, which could generate an estimated $4 billion annually.”

Parent Voices CA To Governor Newsome: Keep Your Childcare Promise! 

 

“The California budget is a statement of what our state values most,” said Keely O’Brien, Western Center on Law and Poverty (WCLP). “Now more than ever, it is essential for our leaders to choose us, the working people and families of California. We must ensure that all Californians not only survive but thrive in the Golden State.”

WCLP Analysis Of Governor Newsom’s May Revision of California’s 2026-2027 Budget