Gavin Newsom's 960 SAT Score Comment Ignites National Firestorm

California Governor Gavin Newsom finds himself at the center of a rapidly escalating controversy after disclosing his 960 SAT score during an Atlanta book tour stop — a moment of intended self-deprecation that exploded into a bipartisan political flashpoint with over 35 million views online as of Tuesday, February 25, 2026 ET.

Gavin Newsom's 960 SAT Score Comment: What He Said in Atlanta

During a Sunday evening appearance at the Rialto Center for the Arts in Atlanta, Newsom sat down with Mayor Andre Dickens to promote his new memoir, Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery, set for official release Tuesday. In an attempt to connect with the largely Black audience, Newsom said: "I'm not trying to impress you. I'm just trying to impress upon you — I'm like you. I'm no better than you. I'm a 960 SAT guy. You've never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read a speech."

The remarks were tied to Newsom's longstanding public disclosure about living with dyslexia — a learning disability he has discussed openly for years across various media appearances and interviews.

Why the Gavin Newsom 960 SAT Moment Went Viral

A short clip of the exchange, first amplified by the conservative social media account End Wokeness, surpassed 35 million views within 48 hours. Critics on both the right and left questioned whether invoking a below-average SAT score was an appropriate way to build relatability with a predominantly Black audience.

Key context from SAT data makes the moment more charged:

Bipartisan Criticism Follows Gavin Newsom's 960 SAT Remark

The fallout came swiftly and from unexpected corners. Republican Senator Tim Scott called the comments patronizing, saying Black Americans have "built empires, created movements, outworked and outhustled" people like Newsom. Former Democratic state senator Nina Turner called the remarks insulting, arguing working-class people don't need politicians using "mediocre academics" to appear relatable.

Democratic strategist Ameshia Cross said she was "bothered by the way he said it," while CNN analyst Bakari Sellers urged Democrats to "stop doing dumb stuff" — though he stressed Newsom is "the furthest thing from a racist."

Newsom and His Team Push Back Hard

Newsom's communications team wasted no time firing back. Spokesperson Izzy Gardon dismissed the criticism as "fake MAGA-manufactured outrage," noting the governor has referenced his 960 SAT score and dyslexia publicly for years — including in conversations with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and in a CBS Sunday Morning interview where he openly pondered a 2028 presidential run.

Newsom himself clashed with Fox News host Sean Hannity on X, defending his dyslexia narrative and challenging Hannity's selective outrage. Mayor Dickens also publicly backed Newsom, posting that the conversation was "a moment of vulnerability about his own journey" and that Atlanta "doesn't need anyone to tell us when to be offended."

The Book Tour and 2028 Presidential Ambitions

The Atlanta event was one of several strategically chosen stops — including Tennessee and South Carolina — that align almost precisely with states Newsom would need to court in a Democratic primary. Young Man in a Hurry is positioned as a platform-building vehicle, and the book tour is widely read as a soft launch of a potential 2028 campaign.

The contradiction many observers noted: a man promoting a book he authored told a live audience he "cannot read."

What the 960 SAT Controversy Reveals About Gavin Newsom's Political Brand

The incident crystallizes a tension in Newsom's political identity — a $30 million-net-worth governor whose first business was funded by a billionaire family friend, now positioning himself as an everyman. His 960 SAT score story may resonate with voters who've struggled academically, but the setting and audience brought unintended layers that his team is now scrambling to manage. Whether the moment becomes a minor footnote or a lasting liability heading into 2028 remains to be seen.