California reverses years of decline with 67,000-person growth spurt, but critics warn Gov Newsom against 'bragging' until he's cut living costs

California has in recent years been dogged by rampant homelessness, drug addiction, and eye-watering living costs that forced residents out in droves to Arizona, Texas and further afield.

Now, it looks like the Golden State is bouncing back.

California grew by some 67,000 people last year, its first gain since 2019, says an estimate from the state Department of Finance.

This ends a population decline that's dogged Gov. Gavin Newsom — widely seen as a future Democratic presidential candidate — through much of his tenure.

California grew by some 67,000 people last year, and the crowds are out at Hollywood Boulevard, in Los Angeles 

Home construction has picked up in California, but costs remain well above the national average

The small increase represents only a growth rate of 0.17 percent.

That is by no means a surge.

But officials say it signals a return to steady population growth after years of Covid-19 disruption.

Newsom took a victory lap.

'People from across the nation and the globe are coming to the Golden State to pursue the California Dream,' he said.

On the West Coast, they 'can experience the success of the world's 5th largest economy,' he added.

The population gain is attributed to more people immigrating to California from overseas.

Also, fewer people are dying from the coronavirus pandemic, and fewer are leaving California for cheaper living elsewhere.

Legal immigration to California from other countries slumped in the pandemic amid tighter rules under then-president Donald Trump.

It bounced back in 2023 with a net gain of 114,200 people, to nearly pre-pandemic levels.

State officials called it a 'stable foundation for continued growth.'

Democratic Gov Gavin Newsom says people are returning for the 'California Dream'

James Gallagher, the state assembly Republican leader, says Newsom should quit 'bragging' 

But that growth will likely be a lot smaller than in decades past, said Eric McGhee, an expert at the Public Policy Institute of California.

'It's going to be better for the state in terms of its total population,' McGhee said.

But California is still set to lose 'more congressional districts in the 2030 census,' he added.

More people still left California for other states in 2023 than moved to California from other states, but it was far less than previous years.

In 2021 — when coronavirus cases were still surging and more people were working remotely — California lost a net 355,648 people through domestic migration.

Last year, that was down to 91,189, closer to pre-pandemic levels.

Still, Newsom's critics say California is not out of the woods yet.

The state continued to suffer from high living costs, uncertain power supply, a housing and homelessness crisis, and widespread concerns about crime.

The return to population growth does not appear to be a revival of the state's stunning growth streak in the 19th and 20th centuries.

'The governor bragging about that is sort of like the guy who lost thousands of dollars at the casino last night bragging about being up 20 bucks at the blackjack table,' quipped James Gallagher, the Republican leader in the state Assembly.

California grew by some 67,000 people last year, its first gain since 2019

More people means more homeless: California has the worst levels of unhoused people in any US state

'I don't understand why the governor and the Democratic super-majority just continue to turn a blind eye to it. They sort of act like nothing's wrong when there is a lot wrong.'

California's gas prices, utility bills and housing costs are among the highest in the country.

The state's homelessness problem has only worsened despite lawmakers throwing billions of dollars at the problem.

California is also in the middle of consecutive multibillion-dollar budget deficits.

Newsom's efforts to cut living costs, including by trying to reduce some medical expenses, are a drop in the bucket.

Critics say California's heyday is in the rearview mirror.

After joining the United States in 1850 on the heels of a gold rush, California was a demographic marvel for its first 169 years — adding population every year.

People flocked to the Golden State for its stunning terrain, weather and super-sized economy, which is larger than those of all but four countries.

That streak ended in 2020, when California lost population for the first time, in a pivotal census year that saw the state lose a congressional seat.

For a two-year period, Californians moving to Texas made up the largest state-to-state flow of people in America, census data show.

The state's population growth estimate appears at odds with recent Census Bureau numbers.

The state estimate was based on several factors, including births and deaths, driver's license address changes, vehicle registration, and enrollment in the government-funded health insurance programs of Medicaid and Medicare.

With agencies.