In a surprising move, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has publicly backed Elon Musk in a lawsuit against the California Coastal Commission. The Commission recently denied Musk’s request to expand SpaceX rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, a decision Musk claims was based on his political support for President Donald Trump rather than on the merits of the proposal.
“I’m with Elon,” Newsom said in a recent interview after a campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris. Newsom expressed disappointment in the Commission’s decision, criticizing their use of politics in determining the outcome. “You can’t bring up that explicit level of politics,” he said, agreeing with Musk’s lawsuit, which alleges political bias influenced the rejection.
Musk’s lawsuit against the Commission accuses them of “naked political discrimination” and argues that the decision was based on partisan politics rather than the merits of SpaceX’s application. Despite frequent disagreements with Musk on issues such as California’s progressive policies and social regulations, Newsom acknowledged that the Commission’s actions in this case were inappropriate.
While Newsom’s support for Musk in this particular instance may seem out of character given their past conflicts, it underscores the governor’s belief that regulatory decisions should not be influenced by political biases. Newsom’s rare defense of Musk demonstrates that even opponents can agree on the importance of impartial governance.
The legal battle between Musk and the Coastal Commission is expected to continue, but Newsom’s remarks signal that even within California’s political landscape, there is room for agreement on issues of fairness and proper regulatory conduct.
