SACRAMENTO, CA – California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who fancies himself a replacement candidate in the event dementia-addled Joe Biden faces reality and drops out of the presidential race, last week pulled a last minute effort with California legislators to put a competing crime bill before voters this fall just before jet-setting off to Washington, D.C. to meet with Biden and other Democrat governors, Politico reports. 

The measure, a watered-down version of another crime bill backed by California prosecutors and large retailers will appear on November’s ballot. The bill scuttled by Newsom would enhance penalties for repeat shoplifters and criminal drug dealers who lace drugs and other substances with fentanyl.