California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said he would not seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 if former Vice President Kamala Harris enters the race, potentially ruling out a direct contest between two of the party’s most prominent California politicians.
“I wouldn’t run if she ran,” Newsom told CNN’s Jake Tapper in an interview released Monday. “Why would I? I wouldn’t do that to her.”
Newsom’s comments come as Democrats begin positioning themselves for the 2028 presidential race, which is expected to attract a large field of candidates following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Harris has not decided whether to run
Both Newsom and Harris have acknowledged that they are considering presidential campaigns, although Harris has yet to make a decision.
Last week, Harris said she was focused on helping Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections rather than deciding on a presidential bid. She made the comments during a podcast interview with former soccer player Megan Rapinoe.
Harris has nevertheless emerged as an early favorite in several polls testing potential Democratic candidates for 2028. One poll conducted in July showed her leading Newsom by double digits.
Her potential candidacy remains a subject of debate within the Democratic Party, particularly after she lost the 2024 presidential election to Trump. Some Democrats have questioned whether the party’s voters would be enthusiastic about another Harris campaign, while some California donors have expressed greater interest in Newsom.
Newsom says a primary fight would divide their supporters
Newsom suggested that a campaign against Harris would create unnecessary competition for the same pool of Democratic voters and donors.
“I know her base of supporters, I know her friends. The [Venn] diagram on that is just pure crossover,” he said.
The governor argued that having both candidates in the same race could divide their support and benefit other contenders.
“It services no greater good” for both of them to run, Newsom said, describing a split between their supporters as “a gift from God for everybody else” in the field.
Newsom and Harris have long been seen as potential rivals for the Democratic nomination, but their political careers have largely developed in parallel. Neither has previously run against the other in an election.
In February, Newsom said he had “never gotten in the way of her ambition” and did not expect to do so in the future, leaving open the possibility that circumstances could eventually bring them into competition.
Newsom continues to test the waters
Despite his latest comments, Newsom has continued to make moves that could be interpreted as preparation for a presidential campaign.
He recently traveled to South Carolina, a key early primary state. The Democratic Party’s decision to make South Carolina its first primary state could potentially benefit Harris, particularly if she secures strong support among the state’s Black voters.
Newsom also acknowledged that Harris has a legitimate argument for seeking the nomination again, given that she has already run for president while he has not.
At the same time, he said any candidate considering a 2028 campaign would need to determine whether they genuinely fit the political moment.
“You gotta be honest with yourself,” Newsom said. “Do you represent the zeitgeist of the moment or are you wasting everybody’s time?”
For now, Harris has not announced whether she will run, while Newsom’s comments suggest that his decision could depend heavily on what his fellow Californian ultimately chooses to do.
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