Gavin Newsom Confirms 2028 White House Ambitions, But Says ‘Fate Will Decide’
California Governor Gavin Newsom has finally admitted what political insiders long suspected — he’s eyeing a 2028 presidential run. In a Sunday interview with CBS News, Newsom said flatly, “Yeah, I’d be lying otherwise,” when asked if he’s considering a bid for the White House.
The famously polished Democrat quickly added a dose of faux humility, claiming he’s still unsure and will leave the decision up to “fate.” But his actions say otherwise.
Laying the Groundwork in Early States
Newsom has already hit key primary battlegrounds like South Carolina, where he’s tested his national messaging. He’s also launched a podcast and turned his social media presence into a theatrical display of left-wing trolling — mimicking Trump’s Truth Social cadence in an apparent attempt to bait conservatives online.
While he plays coy, Newsom is clearly building a national profile ahead of the next campaign season. He’s term-limited in California and can’t seek a third term, freeing him up for a full-time pivot to national politics.
From Biden Backer to 2028 Frontrunner
Newsom passed on challenging Joe Biden in 2024 and instead positioned himself as a loyal surrogate. But with Biden out of the picture by 2028, Newsom has emerged as one of the Democratic Party’s top contenders — alongside names like Kamala Harris, who recently told the BBC, “I am not done.”
Polls consistently show Newsom among the most recognizable and well-funded figures in the Democratic Party. But critics question whether a hyper-progressive governor from California — a state grappling with rampant crime, homelessness, and mass exodus — can sell his brand to middle America.
Weaponizing Redistricting and Rhetoric
Recently, Newsom has doubled down on partisan warfare, urging California Democrats to dismantle their independent redistricting commission. The move comes in response to GOP states redrawing maps mid-cycle to reflect population shifts and solidify control — a strategy Democrats have blasted, even as they now rush to imitate it.
Newsom is backing Proposition 50, a California ballot measure that would allow the state to temporarily redraw its congressional maps in response to Republican-led redistricting efforts in places like Florida and Texas.
“This is about the rule of law, not the rule of Don,” Newsom said, in a not-so-subtle jab at President Trump.
The 960 SAT Gambit
In the same interview, Newsom leaned on his personal backstory to cast doubt on his own readiness — referencing his dyslexia and a sub-1000 SAT score. “The idea that a guy who got 960 on his SAT… that you would even throw [a presidential run] out is, in and of itself, extraordinary.”
But make no mistake: the groundwork is being laid. Newsom may wrap it in faux self-doubt, but his nationwide tours, digital media campaigns, and legislative crusades say otherwise.
Democrats may not have settled on their 2028 standard-bearer yet — but Newsom is doing everything short of announcing to secure the crown.