Gavin Newsom Shifts Stance on Running for President

Governor Gavin Newsom, who previously denied any interest in running for president, is now publicly acknowledging that a presidential bid is a possibility. This change comes as he positions himself against President Trump in light of recent military troop deployments to California. Polls suggest many Californians believe he is more focused on his national ambitions than state governance, fueling speculation about his political future.

California Governor Gavin Newsom is shifting his tune on the possibility of a presidential run, something he’s publicly resisted for years. In the past month, Newsom seems to have started embracing the idea, waving away years of insisting he had zero interest in the White House. He recently stated, in a profile in the Wall Street Journal, that he’s not thinking about running but recognizes that it’s a viable path moving forward.

The timing of this change in mindset couldn’t be more fitting. With President Donald Trump deploying military troops to Los Angeles in response to protests against immigration enforcement, Newsom has jumped at the chance to reassert his position as a leader in resisting Trump’s moves. He has been active in the media, criticizing Trump, and he even sued to halt the troop deployment.

Newsom further elevated the conversation during a recent video address on CNN, where he framed the situation as crucial for democracy. He implored his audience to unite, making the message personal, saying, “This is about all of us. This is about you.”

Polls show that many voters in California suspect Newsom is more interested in boosting his presidential prospects than focusing on state governance. A survey from UC Berkeley indicated that over half of state voters view him as in campaign mode already. Meanwhile, political analysts believe his national presence could be growing, with Larry Sabato from the University of Virginia noting that Newsom might be more compelling to voters outside California than in the past.

Throughout his career, speculation around Newsom’s ambitions for the presidency has never completely faded. His family even joked about it in his college yearbook. While he previously denied any desire for the presidency—labeling it as stress he wanted to avoid—his recent actions paint a different picture. Just two years ago, he claimed to have “sub-zero interest” in running.

Over time, it seems his stance has softened. His visible stance against Trump during the pandemic has raised his profile, and he’s been active in promoting Democratic causes across the country. In 2022, reports indicated he had even reached out to campaign operatives to explore a potential bid should Biden drop out.

Despite his recent openness, Newsom’s team hasn’t commented on the apparent shift in his public relations strategy, which has become clearer in recent weeks. When asked in a podcast about running for president, Newsom said he still has to find a compelling reason to do so, hinting at having the right vision that sets him apart from others.

But, whether he ultimately runs or not, analysts suggest voters likely won’t care much about the change from his past refusals. Sabato asserts that it’s now anticipated that anyone in his position—with Newsom’s profile—would consider a presidential run, stating that credibility concerning broken promises now holds little weight in contemporary politics, especially after Trump’s presidency.

Original Source: calmatters.org