Newsom Doubles Taxpayer-Funded Communications Staff to 24, Costing $2.6 Million a Year

Gov. Gavin Newsom has doubled his taxpayer-funded communications staff since taking office, expanding from 12 employees in January 2020 to 24 today at a combined annual salary of at least $2.6 million, according to a CalMatters investigation published this week.

The expansion includes a full-time photographer earning $212,000 per year whose LinkedIn profile describes the role as focusing on "visual messaging, public perception and narrative development," and a four-person Gen Z digital team that produces social media posts, memes and fan edits for the governor's official accounts.

Fewer reporters, more staff

The growth of Newsom's communications operation has coincided with reduced access for the Capitol press corps. CalMatters reported that only 10 to 20 reporters regularly attend Newsom's rare Sacramento press conferences. The office stopped issuing its own press credentials years ago.

By comparison, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's communications team peaked at about 17 staffers across separate press and communications offices, but his office credentialed 400 reporters and held weekly press briefings, according to former Schwarzenegger spokesperson Margita Thompson.

Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown ran an even leaner operation — eight staffers at its height, including interns — and borrowed photographers from other state agencies when needed.

What the team does

According to the governor's organizational chart updated July 21, the communications staff includes spokespeople, writers, researchers, and a rapid-response unit of two full-time staffers dedicated to fact-checking claims about Newsom and requesting corrections from outlets. The office says it has requested 453 corrections since 2024.

Bob Salladay, Newsom's senior adviser for communications who earns $242,000 per year, told CalMatters the staff growth is "responding to the volume of work that the governor is doing" and that most staff time is spent responding to traditional media inquiries.

Political overlap

CalMatters also reported that Izzy Gardon, the spokesperson behind much of Newsom's combative online presence, moved to a part-time state role this summer at half his $185,000 salary while doing unpaid political work for Newsom. Other staffers take personal time to volunteer for Newsom's political activities ahead of an expected 2028 presidential run.

Newsom leaves office in January 2027 after two terms.