# Newsom Won't Challenge Harris in 2028 — But Would He Win?

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/newsom-wont-challenge-harris-in-2028-but-would-he-win
- Published: 2026-09-16T01:12:01.556650+00:00
- Topics: 2028-election, gavin-newsom, kamala-harris, democratic-party, presidential-politics

## What the left says
- Newsom's deference to Harris reflects a practical read of Democratic primary dynamics, including her stronger name recognition and the boost South Carolina's early primary slot gives her with Black voters.
- Avoiding a Newsom-Harris primary fight prevents a costly, divisive contest between two Californians who would split donors, endorsements, and supporters, preserving party unity heading into 2028.
- Newsom's fly-fishing interview and candid remarks about COVID-era missteps, like extended school closures, show a politician willing to reflect on past decisions while still building a national profile.
- Declining to run against Harris can be framed as loyalty and strategic patience rather than a lack of ambition, keeping the door open for a future run if she opts out.

## What the right says
- Newsom's stated deference to Harris is widely mocked as a calculated, media-staged move rather than a genuine act of political humility, especially given the choreographed nature of the CNN fly-fishing segment.
- Newsom's admission that closing beaches was 'insane in hindsight' and that Los Angeles schools stayed closed too long is seen as a belated and self-serving attempt to rewrite his COVID record ahead of a presidential run.
- Commentators argue Newsom privately believes Harris would perform better than him in a primary, undercutting the idea that his decision is about party unity rather than self-preservation.
- The comparison to Vance and Rubio's similar deference pact is used to suggest Newsom is playing the same political chess game as Republicans, undermining claims of principled restraint.

## Common ground
- Newsom told CNN's Jake Tapper directly that he will not run for president in 2028 if Kamala Harris enters the race.
- Both a Newsom and a Harris campaign would draw from overlapping California donor networks and voter bases, creating real strategic incentives to avoid a head-to-head primary.
- Newsom acknowledged specific pandemic-era decisions, including beach closures and extended school shutdowns in Los Angeles, were mistakes in hindsight.
- Speculation about Newsom's 2028 ambitions continues regardless of his stated deference to Harris, with commentators across the spectrum treating his public statements as strategically timed.

## Sources
- [Breitbart](https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/09/15/farah-griffin-newsom-knows-harris-would-perform-better-in-presidential-bid/) (Unknown)
- [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/newsom-tells-cnn-he-wont-run-for-president-if-kamala-harris-does-in-2028/) (Lean Left)
- [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bernie-sanders-steve-bannon-bipartisan-ai-pro-human-conference/) (Lean Left)
- [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/newsom-roasted-online-staged-fly-fishing-interview-cnn-anchor-dropped-major-2028-hint) (Right)
- [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/09/15/us-news/gavin-newsom-reveals-covid-regret-as-he-teases-2028-presidential-bid/) (Lean Right)
- [RedState](https://redstate.com/videos/2026/09/15/gavin-newsom-let-it-slip-reveals-who-might-run-in-2028-n2206961) (Unknown)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/14/gavin-newsom-says-he-wont-run-president-if-kamala-harris-does/) (Lean Left)

---
Content by TwoTakes (https://twotakes.us). You may quote, summarize and cite it, including in AI answers, as long as you credit TwoTakes and link the story URL. Original reporting belongs to the linked outlets. Summaries are AI-assisted and reviewed for balance; check the original sources for authoritative reporting.