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Gavin Newsom Says He Won’t Run for President if Kamala Harris Runs Again
California Governor Gavin Newsom told CNN he would not seek the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination if Vice President Kamala Harris decides to run. This effectively gives Harris the right of first refusal for the party's upcoming race.
South Carolina was a key stop for Newsom, who has laid extensive groundwork for a 2028 campaign on a "Take it back" tour designed to rally base voters and confront Republican policies.
While fly fishing in Montana, CNN host Jake Tapper asked Newsom about the 2028 race; the governor replied, "A gift from God. To his political opponents. They'd enjoy the hell out of it — mutual assured destruction."
By ruling out a bid, Newsom suggested that a primary fight against Harris for the Democratic nomination simply "doesn't make sense" for the party, effectively clearing the field for the vice president.
Widely seen as a top contender, the governor has spent recent years positioning himself as a key ideological foil to MAGA Republicans, including participating in a televised debate against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.