California Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledged Sunday that he is giving “serious thought” to a potential future presidential bid, marking his clearest public indication yet of national political ambitions.
“Yeah, I’d be lying otherwise,” the two-term Democrat told CBS Sunday Morning’s Robert Costa about considering a White House run. “I’d just be lying, and I’m not — I can’t do that,” Newsom added in a pre-taped interview aired today.
Decision Expected After 2026 Midterms
Newsom emphasized that he does not plan to make a decision about a 2028 run until after the 2026 midterm elections. When asked whether 2028 could be his moment to enter the race, the 58-year-old governor said: “Fate will determine that.”
Could It Be Newsom vs Trump in 2028?
The California governor warned that the outcome of the 2026 midterms is crucial. Democrats winning back the House would help restore a “rebalanced system”, he said, but he expressed concern that if Mike Johnson remains Speaker of the House, Republicans might push for “a third term of President Trump.”
“His (Donald Trump) presidency, de facto, ends next November, if we’re successful …his presidency is over, de facto as we know it today, fire and fury signifying maybe something. But finally, you have rebalanced this system,” Newsom said. “If you have a speaker Johnson, we may have a third term of President Trump.”
Newsom has repeatedly clashed with Trump on key issues. Earlier this year, he launched an offensive against the former president, accusing him of “pulling a military dragnet” across Los Angeles and vowing to “sue” him as violent riots and vandalism erupted in the city. Trump had deployed nearly 5,000 troops, including National Guard and Marines, to the nation’s second-largest city.
Newsom Joins Democratic Presidential Speculation
Newsom’s comments about his presidential ambitions come just days after former Vice President Kamala Harris spoke about her future in politics. She told BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “I am not done. I have lived my entire career as a life of service, and it’s in my bones.”
The remarks from both Newsom and Harris have fueled speculation over the 2028 Democratic primary, as potential matchups with Trump continue to capture national attention.
