The post Gavin Newsom Says He Would Step Aside If Kamala Harris Runs for President in 2028 first appeared on Crafting Your Home.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has made his position on a possible 2028 presidential race involving Kamala Harris unusually clear: if the former vice president runs, he says he will not.
Newsom made the comments during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, portions of which were released Monday. Asked whether he would pursue the Democratic nomination if Harris entered the race, Newsom answered directly that he would not.
The comments add a new layer to speculation surrounding the 2028 Democratic field, where both Newsom and Harris have been discussed as potential contenders.
Neither politician has formally announced a presidential campaign.
Newsom says he does not want a fight with Harris.
Newsom’s explanation focused less on policy differences and more on the overlap between the two politicians’ political networks.
The governor said he knows Harris’s supporters and friends and described the overlap between their potential coalitions as substantial. He argued that having both Californians compete against each other could create a damaging primary fight without serving a broader purpose for Democrats.
Newsom characterized the possibility as “mutual assured destruction,” arguing that a battle between them could benefit other candidates competing for the nomination.
It is a notable position because Newsom has increasingly been viewed as one of the Democrats who could make a serious presidential bid in 2028.
Harris has not decided whether to run.
While Newsom has now outlined what he would do if Harris enters the race, Harris herself has not confirmed that she intends to seek the presidency again.
The former vice president has acknowledged that she is considering a 2028 campaign. She has also said that her immediate focus is helping Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections.
That leaves the eventual Democratic field far from settled.
Other prominent Democrats are also being discussed as potential presidential candidates, meaning that even if Newsom stays out of the contest, the party could still face a large and competitive primary.
Why Newsom’s decision matters
Newsom is approaching the end of his time as California governor because of the state’s term limits. His growing national profile and appearances in states that could play an important role in the 2028 Democratic primary have fueled speculation that he is preparing for a possible campaign.
His decision to defer to Harris, however, could significantly change the race’s potential shape.
Rather than immediately positioning himself as a rival, Newsom is leaving the door open to a future in which Harris becomes the Democratic candidate, and he does not challenge her.
That does not mean Newsom has abandoned presidential ambitions altogether. His comments were conditional: his decision depends on what Harris ultimately chooses.
Family could also play a role.
Newsom has also indicated that a presidential campaign would require consideration of his family.
During the interview, he said his four children would need to support the idea before he would move forward with a campaign.
That detail offers a more personal dimension to what is usually presented as a purely political calculation.
Running for president demands enormous time, travel, and public commitments. For Newsom, his comments suggest that the decision would not be based solely on polls or political opportunities.
His family would be part of the equation.
The 2028 race is still wide open.
For now, there is no official Democratic nominee and no finalized field.
Newsom has said he would step aside if Harris runs, while Harris has yet to announce whether she will seek the nomination. Other potential candidates, including politicians from outside California, are also being discussed.
That means the eventual 2028 contest could look very different from the early speculation.
For Newsom, though, one thing is currently clear.
If Harris decides to run again, he says he will not make the Democratic primary a contest between the two prominent Californians.
For now, both politicians have time to decide what comes next and whether the White House will ultimately be part of their plans.
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