Last Updated:
California Governor Gavin Newsom could take on Donald Trump in 2028, with their current feud shaping up as a preview of a potential face-off in the next presidential race.
California Governor Gavin Newsom gestures as he attends an event, to announce the Golden State Literacy Plan and deployment of literacy coaches statewide, at the Clinton Elementary School in Compton, California, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
California Governor Gavin Newsom and US President Donald Trump have clashed sharply this month after Trump deployed the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles amid large-scale anti-ICE protests.
Newsom opposed the move and sued the federal government, accusing Trump of violating state sovereignty and the 10th Amendment after the president placed 2,000 Guard troops under federal command. Trump hit back, calling him “Newscum” and saying he’s open to arresting the California governor.
Newsom responded on X: “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America.”
The tweet marked more than just outrage. It also signaled how Newsom has steadily built a national profile, positioning himself as a dynamic campaigner.
Recent polling, including from CalMatters and the San Francisco Chronicle, places him among the leading Democratic contenders for 2028.
His fundraising muscle is another asset.
His Campaign for Democracy PAC has pulled in nearly $24 million across 47 states. He drew national attention in 2024 while serving as a high-profile surrogate for Joe Biden, defending him after a poor debate performance and campaigning across key swing states.
Though Newsom ruled out a presidential bid that year and endorsed Kamala Harris, the visibility gave his national brand a major boost.
From San Francisco to Sacramento: Newsom’s Political Ascent
Gavin Newsom was born in San Francisco in 1967 and raised in the Bay Area. His early life was shaped by both privilege and challenge. His father was a state appeals court judge, but Newsom was diagnosed with severe dyslexia and struggled in school.
He studied political science at Santa Clara University and later entered the hospitality industry, co-founding the PlumpJack wine store and expanding it into a chain of restaurants and hotels.
His political journey began in 1996 when then-Mayor Willie Brown appointed him to San Francisco’s Parking and Traffic Commission and later to the city’s Board of Supervisors.
Newsom made national headlines in 2004 as Mayor of San Francisco when he authorized same-sex marriages, years before it was legal nationwide. The bold move drew both praise and criticism, but it established him as a progressive voice in the Democratic Party.
He served as California’s lieutenant governor from 2011 to 2019 before being elected governor in 2018. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, focus on climate policy, and public clashes with conservative leaders like Florida’s Ron DeSantis further raised his national profile.
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More
- Location :
Los Angeles, United States of America (USA)
- First Published:
