California Governor Gavin Newsom said he will not run for president in 2028 if former Vice President Kamala Harris enters the race. The comment came during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper while the governor was fly fishing in Montana, as part of a series where anchors chat with politicians in their preferred settings.
Newsom explained that pitting two California Democrats against each other could split their shared base and give an advantage to other candidates. He said, “Electorally, it’s a gift from God for everybody else. They’d enjoy the hell out of it — mutual assured destruction. It services no greater good.” The governor added that he would not want to waste anyone’s time.
The governor has been a vocal supporter of Harris, tweeting in support after President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 race. Newsom also emphasized family considerations, noting that he has four children and that their support matters. In a March interview with Politico, he said whether his kids would want him to run “depends on the day of the week,” and when asked about a potential bid, his teenage son replied that they were too young and he needed to spend more time with them.
Other Democratic contenders widely discussed for the 2028 election include Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez and Pete Buttigieg. A Bowling Green State University/YouGov poll released earlier this month found Harris at 17 percent support for the Democratic nomination, Newsom and Ocasio‑Cortez tied at 14 percent, and Buttigieg at 16 percent. On the Republican side, Vice President J.D. Vance led with 44 percent support, followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 21 percent.
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