Governor Newsom Discusses Potential Run and Kamala Harris’s Candidacy for 2028

Governor Gavin Newsom of California stated he will not pursue the presidency if Kamala Harris decides to run in the upcoming election. During a CNN interview with Jake Tapper, Newsom expressed his stance clearly, saying, “I don’t know if she runs, but we’ll see. But I wouldn’t run if she ran.” Tapper seemed surprised, prompting Newsom to elaborate, “Of course not. Why would I? I wouldn’t do that to her … I wouldn’t do that to you. I wouldn’t waste everyone’s time. Who needs that?”

While discussing the matter, Newsom mentioned the potential for “mutual-assured destruction” among Democrats vying for the nomination. Tapper posed a counterargument suggesting, “you know, she had her shot. And you’ve never run, and she’s run twice.” Newsom acknowledged this perspective stating, “Yeah, I mean, that’d be the approach to the campaign, certainly. That’d be the case you’d make. Pretty good one, actually. That’s objectively true.”

Newsom, who actively supported Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign, shared his awareness of the overlap between their supporter bases, “But I know what that means. I know her base of supporters. I know her friends. The Venn diagram on that is just pure crossover. I wouldn’t do that,” he added.

Though Newsom is often mentioned as a potential candidate for 2028, Kamala Harris remains a leading figure among Democratic hopefuls, with a significant lead in the RealClearPolitics average of polls by a 24.5-13.5% margin. Other figures like Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Jon Ossoff also appear in contention within a five-point margin.

Currently, Ocasio-Cortez leads the Polymarket betting odds with over 19% while Ossoff follows with 16%. In comparison, Newsom has 12.7% odds, and Harris slightly less at 8%. These figures suggest varied support among the Democratic contenders.