California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing heat after reports revealed his political action committee (PAC) spent a staggering $1,561,875 to buy and distribute his own memoir.
The move essentially "turbocharged" the sales of Young Man in a Hurry, with the PAC responsible for nearly two-thirds of all copies sold since its February 24, 2026, release.
The strategy was simple: Newsom’s Campaign for Democracy Committee sent emails to millions of supporters promising a "free" copy of the book to anyone who made a donation of any amount.
While the tactic reportedly "paid for itself" through new campaign contributions, it created a massive surge on bestseller lists that critics are calling an artificial boost.
Out of the 97,400 total books sold, approximately 67,000 were purchased in bulk through the PAC via the Porchlight Book Company.
Despite the massive expenditure, the PAC’s largest this year, Newsom’s team claims the Governor is not personally pocketing royalties from these specific campaign-funded copies.
The book tour itself has been anything but smooth.
Newsom made headlines during a stop in Atlanta where a viral clip showed him telling a predominantly Black audience, "I’m like you... I'm a 960 SAT guy."
While the Governor’s office insists he was discussing his lifelong struggle with dyslexia, political rivals and figures like Sean Hannity and Senator Tim Scott blasted the comments as patronizing and "racist."
With Newsom’s final year in office overshadowed by an $18 billion state deficit and a potential 2028 presidential run on the horizon, this $1.5 million book buy has experts wondering if the Governor is more focused on his personal brand than the Golden State’s bottom line.