"The damage has been done," said Newsom at a news conference in Sacramento. "Regardless of the decision today, the damage of bringing this issue up and being part of our national discourse over the course of last year, has been done."
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"The threat of the question itself has had an effect in creating fear in discouraging people from participating next year," added California Secretary of State Alex Padilla.
California is spending $187 million to ensure a complete count.
"What hasn't gotten enough attention is that this will be the first digital census in 2020," said Padilla. "When most people are used to receiving that form in the mail in 2020, most Americans and most Californians will first receive a postcard with information about how to go online and submit your information electronically."
Padilla says there's still a digital divide in the U.S. and California is no exception.