California Governor Gavin Newsom became emotional on Wednesday while announcing a significant expansion of the state’s Service Corps, which aims to enlist more young men.

“Excuse me, this is a bit embarrassing,” he remarked as tears filled his eyes. “Amid all the chaos, we need to pause and pay attention to this moment,” he added, wiping his tears.

“We’re constantly at each other’s throats, caught up in conflict and criticism. How do we move forward from this? This is the way,” he emphasized.

Newsom’s emotional reaction coincided with the unveiling of his administration’s initiative to introduce 10,000 new paid roles focused on disaster response, climate initiatives, education, and community service within the state’s service workforce.

This effort is part of a broader executive order aimed at supporting young men, highlighted during a summit he convened that day.

Expressing immense pride, Newsom acknowledged that his sentiments might seem overly sentimental, joking to the young audience behind him, “Look at me, I’m like a kid again.”

“I’m proud of the program and I’m proud of all you guys for being a part of it and for inspiring me,” he said. “It’s so obvious what we need to do. I’m just deeply proud of this.”

The Democratic governor has been on a public spree of appearances over the past few years, trying to win back young men, a constituency that shifted toward the political right since President Trump’s 2024 campaign.

Newsom has appeared alongside figures like Scott Galloway and Richard Reeves, notable figures who have advocated for young men.

He’s made multiple mentions of his executive order targeting young men, including in his State of the State speech this year.

“When we support boys and men, we strengthen families and communities across the board. California is empowering them to find a voice, opportunity and a sense of purpose,” Newsom said in a statement Wednesday.

The governor’s efforts to give men “purpose” come as he’s speculated to run for president in 2028, where the young male vote could have influence — as it did in 2024.

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