Cornel West Slams Newsom Over 'Racist' SAT Remarks

The former presidential candidate accused the California governor of having a 'white supremacy mindset'.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Former Harvard professor and 2024 presidential candidate Cornel West strongly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom over his recent remarks about SAT scores while speaking to a predominantly Black audience in Atlanta. West said Newsom's comments reflected a 'white supremacy mindset' and the belief that 'Black people are less beautiful, less moral, less intelligent'.

Why it matters

Newsom's comments have sparked a backlash, with critics accusing him of racism for citing his own underwhelming SAT score in an apparent attempt to relate to the Black audience. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions around issues of race, education, and representation in politics.

The details

During an event in Atlanta promoting his memoir, Newsom told the city's mayor Andre Dickens: 'I'm a 960 SAT guy. And I'm not trying to offend anyone. I'm not trying to act all there if you got 940.' Newsom also spoke about his struggle with dyslexia. West, who ran for president in 2024, slammed Newsom on a podcast, saying 'When he thinks of Black people, he thinks of lower SATs' and that this 'mindset sits at the core of white supremacy'.

  • On February 22, a conservative influencer posted a clip of Newsom's remarks that went viral on X, the social media platform.
  • On February 24, Cornel West criticized Newsom's comments in a podcast interview.

The players

Cornel West

A former Harvard professor who ran for president in 2024 as an independent.

Gavin Newsom

The Democratic governor of California who has been accused of racism over his remarks about SAT scores.

Andre Dickens

The mayor of Atlanta, who was present at the event where Newsom made his controversial comments.

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What they’re saying

“When he thinks of Black people, he thinks of lower SATs. That mindset sits at the core of white supremacy — the belief that Black people are less beautiful, less moral, less intelligent! Don't play with us like that @CAgovernor.”

— Cornel West (X)

“First MAGA mocked his dyslexia and now they're calling him racist for talking about his low SAT scores. The governor has said this publicly for years — including with [the late conservative commentator] Charlie Kirk and dozens of other audiences.”

— Izzy Gordon, Spokesperson for Governor Newsom (nypost.com)

The takeaway

This controversy highlights the ongoing sensitivity around issues of race, education, and political representation, and the need for elected officials to be mindful of how their comments may be perceived, especially when addressing diverse audiences.