For the first time, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has publicly acknowledged that he’s considering a run for the White House in 2028.
During an interview with CBS over the weekend, Newsom was asked whether he would seriously consider a presidential campaign after the 2026 midterm elections.
His response was candid: “I’d be lying if I said otherwise.”
The comment marks the first time Newsom has openly suggested he’s weighing a presidential bid, following years of speculation fueled by his national profile and pointed criticisms of President Donald Trump.
Earlier this year, Newsom visited South Carolina – expected to be the first Democratic primary state in 2028 – and has ramped up his presence on social media and national news outlets. In recent months, he’s positioned himself as a leading Democratic voice opposing Trump’s policies, saying the country is “literally being put in reverse.”
“I can’t take what’s going on,” Newsom said in one recent clip. “We’re not going to sit back and watch democracy on fire.”
A new Emerson College/Nextar Media poll released earlier this month shows a hypothetical 2028 matchup between Newsom and Vice President J.D. Vance would be statistically tied nationwide, with 10% of voters undecided. In California, a separate Emerson poll found that Newsom’s approval rating has climbed 15 points in recent months.
That bump comes as the governor campaigns for Proposition 50, which he has framed as part of his effort to “stop Trump’s agenda.” Political analysts say the measure has become a vehicle for Newsom to sharpen his national message.
“Prop 50 is part of a larger narrative of Trump being a threat to California – and Newsom standing up to him,” one analyst explained. “California voters, especially Democrats, are very receptive to that message.”
Republicans, meanwhile, say Newsom’s latest comments only confirm what they’ve long suspected.
“He wakes up every morning trying to come up with a new formula to get the Democratic nomination,” said GOP state Sen. Tony Strickland. “But unfortunately, that leader has not been Gavin Newsom.”
Adding another twist, former Vice President and fellow Californian Kamala Harris also said this weekend she’s not ruling out a 2028 presidential run.
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