Dem
47
GOP
53
In case you didn't notice, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) would very much like to be president. He has been in Donald Trump's face constantly, and singlehandedly negated Trump's plan to gain five House seats by getting Texas to draw a new map. While doing this, he has been in the news on a regular basis, which is exactly what all presidential candidates need to do. And Newsom has been very successful at it.
In particular, the Governor has acquired more than 100,000 new donors to his campaign war chest—that is, people who have never previously contributed to him. The money aside, 100,000 e-mail addresses of Democratic donors is worth its weight in bitcoin. And over half the donors live outside California, which says something about his presidential prospects.
On the day Newsom officially announces his run, which could be as early as Nov. 4, 2026, all these 100,000 donors will get the first of many, many, many e-mails, reminding the donors of how much he hates Trump and asking for campaign donations. If everybody gives $10, that is $1 million on day 1, a fine start.
Newsom loves small donors, but he likes big ones, as well. Specifically, he has close ties to Hollywood. Last year he rammed through a film and television tax incentive program worth $750 million, even in the face of a state budget shortfall. Newsom is sure to remind the movers and shakers in Hollywood of this when his campaign begins.
There are certainly Democrats who want Newsom as their presidential nominee in 2028, but there are also Republicans who want this. They see him as the weakest candidate in the general election. They believe Newsom is much too woke for independents and normie Republicans. They are more worried about people like Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY), who comes across as a nonthreatening decent person who could win some red states in the South (as did Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton). Or Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), a Latino and Marine Corps combat veteran who comes from a key swing state next door to another swing state (Nevada). (V)