California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a proposal to ban tackle football under the age of 12 in his state Tuesday evening.
Newsom believes it should be left up to parents to decide instead of being mandated by the state.
In a statement to Politico, Newsom said, “I am deeply concerned about the health and safety of our young athletes, but an outright ban is not the answer. My administration will work with the Legislature and the bill’s author to strengthen safety in youth football — while ensuring parents have the freedom to decide which sports are most appropriate for their children.”
Per Politico, Newsom will likely be campaigning for Joe Biden’s re-election this year and would like to keep the focus on that instead of being in the crosshairs for California banning football, knowing how that talking point might be skewed.
Democratic strategist Douglas Herman agreed with Newsome’s assessment, telling Politico, “Football is the number one thing on TV. It’s an economic driver across our economy for advertising dollars and teams and athletes and coaches. This is a legislative overreach that makes California conform to the stereotype that everyone wants to have.”
It’s unclear if the proposal will be revisited at any point. A similar proposal in New York recently never even made it to a vote.
[Politico]
