During Wednesday’s broadcast of CNN’s “Inside Politics,” CNN Senior National Correspondent Kyung Lah said California’s high cost of living could follow Gov. Gavin Newsom as he pursues higher office.
Lah highlighted the experience of Tom Sopit, who was forced to shut down his restaurant. Sopit attributed the closure to a combination of challenges at the state, federal and municipal levels.
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After the report, Lah explained that California’s affordability crisis extends well beyond the cost of groceries or gasoline, which is the highest in the nation. She pointed to broader financial pressures, including insurance, child care, business fees and regulations that make construction more difficult. “All of it is just crushing,” Lah said, adding that Sopit was not trying to become wealthy—he spent a full year attempting simply to break even but ultimately had to close the business.
Lah added that Democratic candidates should pay close attention to the frustrations of younger generations who fear they cannot achieve the same level of stability as their parents. Sopit’s immigrant parents operated a restaurant in Los Angeles, but he was unable to maintain a similar business. That generational divide, Lah said, could pose a political challenge for those candidates—and particularly for Newsom as he seeks higher office.