Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz has launched a pointed critique of California Governor Gavin Newsom, stating that declining conditions in the Golden State forced him to relocate his family to Florida.
According to sources, the 51-year-old Hall of Famer disclosed that he recently moved across the country, citing concerns about public safety and what he describes as deteriorating quality of life in his home state.
“I never wanted to leave California,” Ortiz told Fox News Digital. “But I left because of the cri me, the fraud and the growing threat to the safety of my children.”
The former champion, who previously served as mayor pro tempore of Huntington Beach, characterized California as having become increasingly inhospitable for families. He emphasized that the decision to leave was driven by necessity rather than ambition.
“Like millions of other parents, I made the difficult decision to move my family to Florida, not for opportunity, but for protection,” the MMA icon explained. “No parent should ever be forced to flee their home state to keep their children safe.”
Ortiz directed sharp criticism toward Newsom’s leadership, tracing what he views as failed governance back to the governor’s tenure as San Francisco mayor.
“Gavin Newsom’s failures didn’t start in Sacramento,” the former UFC star claimed. “He helped devastate San Francisco, then exported those same disastrous policies statewide.”
He painted a picture of a state facing multiple challenges, including what he described as “cri me, rampant fraud, lawless streets, unaffordable housing, and crushed small businesses.”
“California cannot survive more of the same,” he added.
The governor’s office responded tersely to Ortiz’s public statements. “We’re not sure who Tito Ortiz is, but we wish him well. Bye!” the office stated, according to Fox News.
Despite relocating, Ortiz continues to engage with California politics from his new Florida residence. He has publicly endorsed Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco for governor in the upcoming 2026 election.
Ortiz praised Bianco’s leadership during the pandemic, when the sheriff declined to enforce certain COVID-19 restrictions issued by the state government.
“In 2020, when Gavin Newsom ruled by decree and used fear as a weapon, Sheriff Bianco stood up and refused to enforce unconstitutional lockdowns,” Ortiz said. “Anyone can talk. Sheriff Bianco acted. When it mattered most, he stood with the people, not the political elite. He has earned my vote and my endorsement.”
Ortiz joins fellow UFC veteran Dan Henderson in supporting Bianco’s gubernatorial bid. Henderson praised the sheriff for using “common sense” to keep local businesses operating during state-mandated closures.
Ortiz’s political involvement is not new. In 2020, he successfully ran for Huntington Beach City Council, campaigning on a platform focused on local safety and business concerns. However, his time in office proved brief and contentious.
Just six months after taking office in late 2020, Ortiz resigned in June 2021, citing what he termed “character assassination” by media outlets and political opponents. His resignation statement cited multiple news reports and described leaked personal information intended to damage his reputation.
“I am resigning from my position as Mayor Pro Tem and City Councilman with the City of Huntington Beach, effective June 1, 2021,” Ortiz stated at the time. “To be so focused on character assassination each and every week with multiple news stories and leaked personal information, all in hopes to slander and defame my name… the attacks against me have now involved my family. I now feel their safety is in danger.”
His tenure was marked by controversy, including questions about multiple Paycheck Protection Program loans and pandemic unemployment assistance filings associated with his name. Ortiz maintained that all his financial filings were “legal and legitimate,” though he did not address every specific document that emerged in media reports.
The resignation came shortly after an incident involving his children and a local school’s health protocols, which generated significant media attention and public discussion.
