Gavin Newsom says he will not run for president in 2028 if Kamala Harris enters the race, reshaping the Democratic primary field.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has made a striking declaration about his potential 2028 presidential campaign, saying he would not seek the White House if former Vice President Kamala Harris decides to run.
Newsom, who has long been viewed as one of the Democratic Party’s potential 2028 contenders, made the comments during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper. His statement immediately added a new layer of uncertainty to a Democratic primary field that is already beginning to take shape.
Newsom says Harris could change his plans
Newsom was asked directly whether he would run for president if Harris entered the race.
His response was unequivocal.
“I wouldn’t run if she ran,” Newsom told Tapper. When Tapper pressed him on whether that meant he would definitely stay out, Newsom replied, “Of course not. Why would I?”
Newsom explained that he sees little benefit in competing directly against Harris, a fellow California Democrat with whom he has a long political relationship.
He also suggested that a primary battle between the two would ultimately benefit their political opponents.
Newsom warns of ‘mutual assured destruction’
Newsom described a potential contest against Harris as “mutual-assured destruction,” arguing that the overlap between their political networks and supporters would make a direct primary fight particularly damaging.
“I know her base of supporters; I know her friends. The Venn diagram on that is just pure crossover,” Newsom said.
The governor argued that Democrats competing against each other in such a scenario could create an opening for other candidates.
Newsom said there would be “no upside whatsoever” to such a contest if his goal were to serve a broader political purpose.
Harris has not decided on 2028 run
Despite Newsom’s announcement, Harris has not formally said she will run for president in 2028.
Harris said in July that she had “not made a decision” and was focused on the 2026 midterm elections. She has nevertheless acknowledged that another presidential campaign is something she is considering.
Harris ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 before becoming President Joe Biden’s running mate in 2024. She later became the party’s 2024 presidential nominee after Biden ended his reelection campaign.
Her future political plans remain closely watched as Democrats begin considering potential successors and contenders for the next presidential cycle.
Newsom has been building a national profile
Newsom’s comments are particularly significant because he has increasingly positioned himself as a potential 2028 contender.
The California governor has traveled outside his home state, including a recent trip to South Carolina, an important early state in the Democratic presidential nominating process.
He has also become one of the Democratic Party’s most prominent national voices, frequently criticizing President Donald Trump and weighing in on issues far beyond California.
Newsom’s current gubernatorial term is also nearing its end, leaving the 2028 presidential race as one of the most obvious potential next steps for his political career.
A major opening for other Democrats
If Harris ultimately enters the 2028 presidential race, Newsom’s decision could significantly alter the Democratic field.
Rather than a direct contest between two nationally recognized California Democrats, the party could see Newsom remain on the sidelines while candidates such as Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jon Ossoff and other rising Democrats compete for the nomination.
Fox News reported that Harris currently holds an advantage over Newsom in the RealClearPolitics average of polling among potential Democratic contenders, although the race remains years away and could change considerably.
For now, however, Newsom has made his position clear: if Harris decides to run, he says he will not.
That makes Harris’ eventual decision one of the most consequential unanswered questions for the Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential field.
