At the California Economic Summit this week at the Long Beach Convention Center, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom shared the stage with former Republican California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who praised Newsom for helping grow the state’s economy and cutting pollution while the Trump administration continues to try to “crush California’s environmental policies.”
Schwarzenegger noted Newsom’s presence at the COP30 United Nations climate conference in Brazil in November. (The Trump administration decided not to attend the summit.)
Schwarzenegger said of Newsom’s attendance at the global summit, “Let them always know that California is the perfect example of what can be done when people work together, and when we don’t look at this as a Republican or Democratic issue.”
Governor @Schwarzenegger: “California is shining worldwide… the perfect example of what can be done when people work together”
Not Democrats versus Republicans. Californians working together. https://t.co/5c51Bd1mEZ
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) October 14, 2026
Also this week, as seen below at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, the former Republican governor celebrated the 20th anniversary of AB 32, a state law Schwarzenegger signed “to terminate pollution and prove you can protect the environment and pump up the economy.”
According to Schwarzenegger, “Since 2000, California’s emissions are down 21%, while our economy is up 81%. “
Schwarzenegger emphasized his bipartisan approach to the governorship: “I had a simple test for hiring in the Governor’s Office: do you want to serve the public? I didn’t care what party you came from, and I didn’t care what my party said about you. That’s how it should be. Public servants, not party servants.”
I had a simple test for hiring in the Governor’s Office: do you want to serve the public? I didn’t care what party you came from, and I didn’t care what my party said about you. That’s how it should be. Public servants, not party servants.
@govarnoldusc had a fantastic event yesterday about the 20th anniversary of AB 32, California’s historic law I signed to terminate pollution and prove you can protect the environment and pump up the economy. Since 2000, California’s emissions are down 21%, while our economy is up 81%.
We served the public. Not the party.
— Arnold Schwarzenegger (@Schwarzenegger) October 14, 2026
Below is the entire Newsom/Schwarzenegger conversation at the California Economic Summit.
LIVE NOW: I’m about to take the stage with Former Governor @Schwarzenegger to talk about how California is both growing its economy and cutting pollution. https://t.co/njhUt0799t
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) October 14, 2026