Newsom, Harris hint at 2028 White House runs
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom cheers for Vice President Kamala Harris on the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on August 22. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris, two of the Democrats' biggest names, both suggested that they could launch future White House bids in interviews aired this weekend.
The big picture: The pair both ascended California's political ranks but haven't faced off one-on-one. The 2028 primary, which is already sure to be a tense battle for the party's nomination, could provide that forum for the Golden State stars.
Driving the news: Newsom said he'd be "lying" if he said he wouldn't consider running for president after the 2026 midterms in an interview that aired Sunday on CBS News' "Sunday Morning."
- "I'm looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment," Newsom told Robert Costa.
Zoom out: Harris' timeframe was less clear, but she told the BBC that she would "possibly" be president one day in an interview snippet released Saturday.
- She told the network's Laura Kuenssberg that she's "not done" but said she had yet to make a decision.
- "I have lived my entire career a life of service, and it's in my bones ... There are many ways to serve," she said. "I have not decided yet what I will do in the future beyond what I am doing right now."
Catch up quick: Right now, Harris is criss-crossing the country (and beyond) on tour for her book detailing her truncated 2024 fight against a MAGA resurgence.
- She's turned heads with her candid retelling and reflection, stoking internal party tensions and calling out big names — Newsom included.
- In her book, Harris recounted calling several Democratic lawmakers after former President Biden dropped out of the race. She wrote that when she reached out to Newsom, he said he'd call back but never did.
Newsom has emerged as a face of resistance to Trump 2.0, with battles over redistricting and troop deployments on U.S. soil becoming major flashpoints in his long-running feud with President Trump.
- He's made trolling Trump a signature part of his communications strategy, often mimicking the president's all-caps posts and hawking familiar merch.
What we're watching: The 2028 primary is set to be the most wide-open field in a generation, Axios' Alex Thompson reports. And it's already started heating up with early primary state visits.
- Other potential presidential hopefuls have largely remained coy about their intentions.
- But Thompson reports that several Democrats are preparing for multiple candidates to formally enter the race even before the 2026 midterms.
Go deeper: Trump's criticizing Dem governors with 2028 in mind
