California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s chief of staff is reportedly set to leave her post as she ponders potential opportunities within the incoming Biden administration.
Ann O’Leary had a long government career in Washington before taking charge of Newsom’s operations in November 2018 during the gubernatorial transition from former Gov. Jerry Brown, according to Politico, which cited multiple sources close to Newsom regarding the reported departure plans.
O’Leary worked for Hillary Clinton for several years and served as co-executive director of the Clinton-Kaine Transition Project. She was a senior policy adviser to Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and her legislative director in the Senate.
Sources close to Newsom said the governor’s office has been disorganized over the past month and has not responded well to potentially damaging news stories, particularly about the governor’s prolonged delay in naming a Senate replacement for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, according to Politico.
Newsom is coming under growing pressure to name a woman of color to replace the California Democrat. The governor will have to make another tough decision in replacing state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who was named this week to be President-elect Joe Biden’s Health and Human Services secretary.
California has also seen public protests over increased restrictions over the coronavirus pandemic, especially after Newsom made national headlines after breaking his own state guidelines regarding large gatherings. The governor was caught dining at an upscale restaurant with multiple people in November as he warned state residents against such behavior.
California is also facing scrutiny over its investigation into fraud after it was revealed hundreds of thousands of dollars were sent to residents out of state and to inmates on death row who had unemployment claims filed in their name.
Earlier in December, state prosecutors found the California Employment Development Department might have sent up to $1 billion worth of benefits out of state, including some claims that reportedly went out of the country.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Newsom’s office for comment.
