Gavin Newsom says he would not run for president if Kamala Harris enters 2028 race

Highlights:

CALIFORNIA Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat widely considered a potential contender for the 2028 presidential election, said he would not enter the race if former US vice president Kamala Harris decides to run again.

Newsom made the comments in an interview with CNN anchor Jake Tapper, a clip of which was shared on Monday (14). The two were standing knee-deep in water while fishing when Tapper asked Newsom about the possibility of Harris running.

“I wouldn’t run if she ran,” Newsom said.

Newsom said having both himself and Harris campaign for the Democratic nomination could split the party’s votes and benefit Republicans. He said Republicans could instead rally around a smaller group of potential nominees, including vice president JD Vance.

“Electorally it’s a gift from God for everybody else. They’d enjoy the hell out of it,” Newsom said. “Mutually assured destruction, it serves as no greater good.”

Newsom also discussed why he did not challenge former president Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination in 2024. He said he “wasn’t ready” at the time and believed he would have lost.

“First of all, I wouldn’t do that,” Newsom said, referring to the 2024 race. “Second, if I did, I would have gotten crushed because I didn’t have a why.” Newsom said his four children would also play a role if he ever decides to run for president. “I’ve got four kids. It’s the only thing that matters to me. They gotta be on board,” Newsom said. “Forget it, if they’re not on board, that’s a non-starter.”

The comments appeared to surprise Tapper in the twominute clip, which previewed a longer interview expected to air on Tuesday (15).

Newsom’s comments could also draw attention because of his political rise in California. He previously served as mayor of San Francisco before becoming governor of the state, where Democrats have held statewide office for decades.

Newsom was elected governor in 2018 and won reelection to a second term four years later. During his time as governor, Newsom survived a recall election, launched a podcast called This is Gavin Newsom, and oversaw emergency responses to natural disasters, including wildfires, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this month, Newsom spent several days visiting right-leaning southern states, where he campaigned for Democratic causes.

On Monday (14), Newsom also welcomed a Supreme Court decision that allowed a lower court to block proposed changes to mail-in voting made by the Trump administration.

“Today is a good day for democracy, the rule of law, and the American people looking to exercise their Constitutional right to vote,” the governor said in a statement.

“Trump’s attacks on democracy these last 20 months have been nothing short of unAmerican.” In June, Newsom accused the US Department of Justice of launching a politically motivated investigation involving him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

A DOJ source in Washington, who requested anonymity, told AFP earlier this year that the investigation was not politically motivated. The source said it focused on “tax activity” involving Newsom’s wife, a documentary filmmaker, and activities related to his former chief of staff and possibly current aides.

“Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean tweets,” Newsom said in June. “He’s coming after me because I am considering running for president.

“One by one, anyone who has challenged Donald Trump has ended up on his hit list,” he continued.