Newsom says he won't run for president in 2028 if Harris does

California Governor Gavin Newsom stated in a recent CNN interview that he would not run for president if Kamala Harris chose to do so again, effectively granting her the right of first refusal in the 2028 race. Speaking in Montana as they fished together, Newsom told host Jake Tapper he wouldn't run if Harris ran, emphasizing that he wouldn't waste anyone's time.

This apparent deference to his fellow Californian appears to be a recognition of political reality rather than sentimentality, and highlights a potential conflict between the two ambitious politicians. The development adds practical questions about their timelines for making a decision on a presidential bid and whether Newsom would enter the race if Harris remained undecided.

Newsom has been preparing for a national campaign for over a year, using his redistricting campaign as a launch pad. Harris had previously hinted at her intention to run four months ago. Newsom framed his stance as beneficial for all primary candidates, suggesting that mutually assured destruction would serve no greater good. He then countered an argument that Harris had a historical shot at winning while he had never run before, pointing out that it would be a valid campaign argument.

However, he added that their shared political base from their San Francisco days would be a hurdle for both of them, warning that they'd be competing for the same supporters. This comes across as far more definitive than his earlier statements about both of them potentially running. In February, Newsom had said fate would determine if the two San Franciscans would run against each other. He has never interfered with Harris' ambition before and doesn't expect to do so in the future.