Gavin Newsom Makes Major 2028 Announcement

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is leaving the door open to a 2028 presidential campaign, but he says one potential Democratic candidate could keep him out of the race entirely.

Newsom said he would not seek the Democratic nomination if former Vice President Kamala Harris decides to run. “I wouldn’t run if she ran,” Newsom told CNN.

Harris has not announced her plans for 2028. In July, she said she had “not made a decision” about another presidential campaign as she focused on the midterm elections.

Newsom suggested his longstanding political ties to Harris and their overlapping supporters would make a head-to-head primary difficult.

“I know her base of supporters; I know her friends,” Newsom said. “I wouldn’t do that to people.”

The governor also argued that a Newsom-Harris showdown could ultimately hurt both candidates while benefiting the rest of the Democratic field.

“They’d enjoy the hell out of it. Mutual assured destruction. It services no greater good. Why would I do this if I wasn’t trying to serve some greater good? There would be no upside whatsoever,” Newsom said.

Harris previously pursued the Democratic presidential nomination during the 2020 election cycle and later became the party’s presidential nominee in 2024.

Newsom acknowledged that Harris’ previous presidential campaigns could become an argument for Democrats to consider a different candidate in 2028.

“That would be the case you’d make. Pretty good one, actually. You know, that’s objectively true,” he said.

Despite ruling out a direct contest with Harris, Newsom has repeatedly signaled interest in a possible White House run.

He previously said he would seriously consider a presidential campaign after the 2026 midterm elections.

Newsom has also traveled to South Carolina, an important early Democratic primary state, while continuing to publicly discuss the possibility of seeking the presidency.

Neither Newsom nor Harris has formally announced a 2028 campaign, leaving the Democratic field unsettled as potential candidates position themselves ahead of the next presidential election.