Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings has publicly stated he will not support California Governor Gavin Newsom, a potential frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, citing the governor’s position on transgender issues.
On the social media platform Bluesky, Jennings responded to a user who vowed never to vote for Newsom. “This is correct,” Jennings affirmed. “Any candidate cynically ‘triangulating’ on trans kids is a non-starter, and now is the time to say so. There’s still so much time to advance candidates that DON’T suck.”
The criticism follows recent backlash against Newsom from the LGBTQ+ community. The governor’s appearances on right-wing podcasts, such as the Shawn Ryan Show, have drawn scrutiny for his comments on transgender children and athletes. Newsom has previously stated he believes it is “deeply unfair” for transgender athletes to compete in female sports.
Jennings’ declaration was met with significant praise online. Supporters lauded his firm stance, with many expressing appreciation for his willingness to call out what they perceive as political cynicism.
In a follow-up post, Jennings added, “I think the only two governors who ever followed me on Twitter were Newsom and Spencer Cox, and I feel bad that I’m apparently such a good ‘craven doofus’ follow.”
