Newsom, Harris both weighing presidential bids

But the early willingness of Newsom and Harris to publicly consider a White House bid shows that the Golden State remains a central power base in Democratic polities. It also sets up a potential 2028 political showdown between two of California’s most prominent and nationally polarizing political figures.

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FORMER Vice President Kamala Harris said she's expecting a female president. GOV. GAVIN Newsom said he's not rushing into a 2028 presidential campaign.

(JASON ARMOND Los Angeles Times JUSTIN SULLIVAN Getty Images)

For years, Newsom has denied presidential ambitions, even as pundits have considered him a potential candidate. But since Trump defeated Harris in the November 2024 election, the California governor has emerged as a more vocal, combative critic of the Trump administration’s agenda.

“This is Gavin Newsom finally saying out loud what everyone’s been whispering for years,” said Thad Kousser, a professor of political science at UC San Diego. “He has obvious presidential ambitions and now he’s ready to own them.”

Under Newsom's leadership, California has filed dozens of lawsuits against Trump — most noticeably against the Republican administration’s deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles. The governor has also become more aggressive on social media, taking to X to taunt and troll Trump.

Still, Newsom, whose term as governor ends in January 2027 and who cannot run again because of term limits, cautioned that he is not rushing into a 2028 presidential campaign.

“I have no idea,” Newsom said Sunday of whether he will actually decide to run.

Kousser said Newsom was probably motivated to express his presidential aspirations now because Harris has signaled her willingness to run.

“There could be a concern here that Gavin Newsom would be boxed out by the other most prominent Democrat from California if he doesn’t join the field and doesn’t admit his presidential aspiration at the same time she’s declared hers,” Kousser said.

But Kousser emphasized that Newsom had always had ambitions to run when the time was right.