Photo of Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor Andre Dickens
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Calls grow for Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom to step down for telling a Black mayor “I’m like you. I can’t read.”

The incident happened on Sunday when Newsom visited Georgia to promote his new memoir and to campaign for former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms who is running for Governor in 2026.

During a conversation with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens at the Rialto Theater, Newsom gestured toward Dickens, who is Black, and said, “I’m not trying to impress you, I’m just trying to impress upon you, I’m like you. I’m not better than you. I’m a 960 SAT guy.”

Newsom continued: “And I’m not trying to offend anyone. I’m not trying to act all there if you got 940 … You’ve never seen me read a speech because I cannot read a speech.”

Following the public backlash on Monday, Newsom said he was referring to his “lifelong struggle with dyslexia” and he said the public criticism was “fake f–ing outrage.”

Mayor Dickens, also a Democrat, made excuses for Newsom. Dickens said the governor’s comments were “not an attack on anyone” but rather “a moment of vulnerability.”
Photo of Mayor Andre Dickens' statement

Newsom’s supporters said he was referring to the mostly white audience when he claimed his low SAT score was just like them.

However, white people averaged 1030 points on the SAT exam while Black people scored an average of 903 on the SATs.

The backlash continued on X/Twitter on Monday.

An X user uncovered old video of Newsom telling an author that he read his entire 260-page book in 1.5 hours.

Newsom is accused of lying about his dyslexia.

When a Fox News reporter asked the governor for documented proof of his dyslexia, a Newsom staffer told her to “f–k off.”