Gavin Newsom accused of racism after remark about 960 SAT score

California Gov. Gavin Newsom courted controversy over the weekend at a book promotion event in Atlanta with comments that suggested black Americans score poorly on the SAT and have weak reading skills. 

Newsom was speaking with Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens about Young Man in a Hurry, his forthcoming book at the Rialto Center for the Arts in Atlanta. The conversation touched on a host of topics, but it was Newsom's comments about SAT scores that raised eyebrows.

“I’m not trying to impress you, I’m just trying to impress upon you," Newsom told Dickens during the talk. "I’m like you. I’m not better than you. I’m a 960 SAT guy,” Newsom declared, prompting a perplexed look from Dickens. He went on to add, "You’ve never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read a speech."

Critics pounced on the remarks suggesting Newsom was implying that black Americans are incapable of achieving a high score on the SAT, or broadly have poor reading skills. Many drew comparisons to similar types of racist quotes made by other Democrats in the past, including Joe Biden's comment in 2019 that "Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids." Others pointed to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's comment in 2024 that caused a huge uproar. "Right now, we have young black kids growing up in the Bronx who don’t even know what the word computer is," Hochul said at the time, before later saying she "misspoke."

Newsom is widely seen as a potential candidate for president in 2028. One recent poll suggests he ranks second among Democrats who might seek the nomination, trailing far behind the leader Kamala Harris. Below, watch Newsom's remark from over the weekend.