Newsom Says Trump Is ‘Gravest Threat to American Democracy’ in Call to Voters

Democrats hope to regain control of the House and Senate, both of which are currently held by Republicans. A Democratic victory in the House would restore the party’s ability to more aggressively scrutinize the Trump Administration, including through congressional investigations.

When contacted for comment by TIME, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said Newsom is “the worst governor in America.”

In a speech that lasted more than eight minutes, Newsom argued the “nation’s democratic promise is under threat” from what he described as a “corrupt and unstable President.”

“Which is why, on America’s 250th birthday, we need a declaration of election independence—freedom from election manipulators and deniers, freedom from the militarization of election day, freedom from the fear of imprisonment if you don’t go along with Trump’s schemes,” he said.