California governors have become rubber stamps for the insanity of a leftist one-party legislature. They occasionally veto bills for either fiscal or separation of power reasons. This is a different kind of veto.

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a trio of vetoes late Friday evening that are sure to anger his progressive allies — including an unexpected rejection of a bill requiring judges to consider children’s gender identities in custody disputes.

On the losing end of the Democratic governor’s actions are three mainstays of liberal support: LGBTQ rights groups, labor unions and immigration advocates.

Newsom dealt a stinging defeat to LGBTQ activists by vetoing a bill that would’ve asked courts to consider a child’s gender identity when it comes to custody decisions…

And the governor turned back a bill barring California’s prison system from sharing information about incarcerated immigrants with federal officials, fortifying California’s “sanctuary laws.”

The transgender parental custody bill was a horrifying abomination that would have blackmailed parents and encouraged them to ‘transgender’ kids to win custody battles.

But I don’t believe for a moment that Newsom had an attack of decency here.

There’s really only reason he would strike down two items on a leftist wishlist where state politicians have had open season, transgendering kids and protecting illegal aliens, and that’s a presidential race.

Gov. Newsom has already spent a lot of time and money building a national profile. Then he pulled back, backed Biden, and campaigned for him. Newsom has said repeatedly that he’s not running against Biden.

But why alienate your own state’s insane fanatics just to build some national credibility for 2028?

This is the kind of move you would make if you were going to run in 2024. Is that a sure thing? Who knows. But Newsom appears to be prepping for the opportunity yet again. The assumption here seems to be that Biden will drop out. It may not happen, but it looks like Newsom is angling for it at the very least.