Gavin Newsom ghosts Trump to take the Democratic lead for president

Observers of the 2028 presidential election believe the Republican contest might already be over. Vice President J.D. Vance has separated himself from the pack, and if President Donald Trump endorses him, he will enjoy an insurmountable advantage. The only drama left will be his selection of a running mate. Speculation about Vance’s pick can begin three years out, but that seems too soon to be making predictions when it could be someone off the radar screen today. On the Democratic side, California Governor Gavin Newsom has broken free from his party’s goat rodeo and has roared ahead of his opponents. How has he done this? Newsom has used the oldest trick in the book: stealing a good idea. By imitating Trump’s use of social media, playing to his party’s base instincts, and sounding ever so slightly moderate, Newsom has positioned himself as his party’s frontrunner for 2028. 

Newsom will complete his second term as governor in 2026. The state remains an economic power equivalent to the fifth-largest economy in the world if it were a nation. Its natural beauty and exceptionally welcoming climate make it a destination for millions of people. Since the 1990s, however, mostly Democrats have led the state government, with the party in charge of both legislatures. Increased regulation and taxes have led businesses to leave, and one-party rule has given the state a reputation as a leftist haven for socialists and niche progressive policies. Republicans are now often an afterthought in statewide office, although Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan hailed from California. Newsom is leveraging gerrymandering to expand Democratic control, and as a result, GOP voters have less influence. As an illustration, in 2024, Donald Trump earned 38 per cent of the vote in California; however, the GOP only won 9 out of 52 congressional districts. That represents a mere 18 per cent of the seats. 

Building on fears that Texas may apportion its congressional seats to favour better GOP results, Newsom took up the torch to fight fire with fire (his words). While not the only Democratic governor to take on this alleged threat to democracy, Newsom has turned it into an art form, using social media to lampoon Trump and the MAGA movement. In his aggressive effort to draw attention to himself and his causes, Newsom has dared to go where Democrats have feared to tread since Trump entered the political arena ten years ago. Using bold type caps, Newsom has trolled Trump and humorously been able to get under the skin of many in MAGA. Stephen Cheung, the White House Communications Director in the Trump White House, reacted to a Newsom post calling the governor a “vile piece of sh– .” These little jokes, use of nicknames, and flagrant imitation have hit a nerve, and Democrats love seeing Trump’s people respond and react. 

Mark Halperin, America’s preeminent political journalist in 2025, has a take on the Newsom phenomenon that aligns with the Trump playbook. Qualifying his discussion about Newsom’s energy at this point in the nomination race, Halperin talks about half the country liking Donald Trump because they prefer whatever the blues are offering. Then he says, “And I’ll say to people in Red America, try to figure out why Gavin Newsom’s doing well because he is. Try to work with me here to understand why he is doing well.” Referring to Steve Elmendorf, a Democratic strategist who posited a theory about Trump’s success, Halperin listed the three A’s that explain Trump’s appeal and how Newsom has tapped into the same three: Action, Attention, and Authenticity. 

Action means doing stuff. Do not sit around and become paralyzed in inaction. Trump has set the standard, and Newsom tries to follow suit in his state. Newsom’s actions may be unpopular with conservatives, yet he actively addresses issues and is open to dialogue. 

Attention defines the media age in which we live. Numerous sources are competing for people’s attention. Netflix, video games, streamed events, and social media vie for eyeballs. Halperin suggests that talent is necessary to get attention on social media, television, and other platforms.

Authenticity is a characteristic shared by Trump and Newsom. People in MAGA will call Newsom a phony, but the evidence suggests otherwise. His use of social media to parody Trump has worked. Using mocking language, ending his posts with, “thank you for your attention to this matter,” and employing AI to put himself on Mount Rushmore brings delight to Democrats who have spent years frustrated with Trump’s mastery of new technology. 

Here is Newsom in a local TV interview in mid-August explaining his new strategy. “So yes, I’ve changed. The facts have changed. We need to change. And we need to stand up to this authoritarian (Trump). We need to stand up at this moment. And it’s foundational. Again, it is not about Republican versus Democrat. This guy is an invasive species. He’s completely different. I respect the Republican Party. I’m married into a Republican family. I have (a) deep love and respect for people I disagree with. He (Trump) is something altogether different. And he is unmoored. There are no constraints. So yes, we’re going to punch back. And yes, we’re going to punch back with the full weight of the fourth-largest economy in the world, the size of 21 states’ population. Goodbye. And with the consent of the people that endow the power to government, we will do the right thing, and we will push back, and we will succeed this November.”

When asked about Newsom by Laura Ingram on FOX, J.D. Vance said, “… this idea that Gavin Newsom is somehow gonna mimic Donald Trump’s style, I think that ignores the fundamental genius of President Trump’s political success, which is that he is authentic. He is just who he is. You’ve got to be yourself. You’ve got to talk to people honestly about the issues. I don’t think that’s complicated.” Vance may think Newsom looks phony or inauthentic, but for many Democrats and some Independents, he comes across as savvy. 

Halperin rebuts Vance’s assessment, stressing how consistently Newsom has opposed this president and his administration. Regardless of what the White House says, Democrats react favourably because they know Newsom is authentic. He represents those in the Democratic Party who don’t want to sit back and take what Trump hands out. Newsom goes at it 24/7. He reads the battle and fights against whoever challenges his leadership of California, including the big retail company Bed Bath and Beyond, which put out a statement saying they could no longer do business in Newsom’s heavily regulated state. Newsom took to X and sarcastically responded, pointing out the financial problems the company had endured in many other states in the past two years. Newsom apes Trump’s willingness to avoid doing business as usual. He does unconventional things, and his admirers, like Trump’s, are glad to see someone willing to do something different. 

Halperin’s work uncovers four myths about Newsom held by conservatives, critics, and some liberals. These are important to understand because if you are on the right, you need to know this about Newsom.

Myth One: Newsom is super liberal. Yes, on gay rights and abortion, he could not move more left, but he is not liberal on everything. He has made comments on Charlie Kirk’s podcast about trans athletes in sports that rubbed people on the left the wrong way. His economic views aren’t ultra-liberal. Speaking for himself, “I’m a pragmatist. I’m a small business owner. I’ve created 22 small businesses, taking pen to paper, close to a thousand people that I have had the privilege of employing in the state. I’ve had an entrepreneurial mindset. I embrace innovation and free enterprise. And so, this notion that I’m a wild-haired liberal is just nonsense.” Compared to many others who will run, he’s moderate on plenty of issues. 

Myth Two: Newsom is a pretty boy, a know-nothing with no understanding of policy. He wrote a book about the digital economy that was quite prescient. He has repeatedly emphasized his commitment to pursuing pragmatic, not ideological, policies for the people of California. Newsom can speak about homelessness or crime. Underestimating him would be a mistake.

Myth Three: California has completely failed. There are serious problems, but as a two-term governor, he has had success. The economy has grown on his watch, and it ranks as the fifth largest in the world if measured separately. Again, in his words: “We continue to grow. We continue to outperform. We’re a wealth-making machine.” He also takes exception to California being a high-tax state, pointing out that sixteen other states tax their low-wage earners more than the Golden State. 

Myth Four: While Newsom has hired people for a presidential campaign and is building a strong team, Halperin thinks he may enter and then drop out quickly. Newsom implied his kids aren’t interested when asked. They want their lives to be as normal as possible. His children’s access to privacy, anonymity, and personal time ends with presidential security, just as the small security detail that comes with being governor of California disrupted their lives. 

Newsom may run; he may not. He has maintained a high profile ever since winning the governorship in 2018, facing off against Ron DeSantis in debates, entering the ring to fight Trump and never shying away from a fight. 

Republicans who mock Newsom as a shallow and wild-eyed leftist from California do so at their peril. In 2028, Newsom will present a serious alternative to whomever the Republicans nominate. If he runs, he will most likely win the nomination and force the Republican nominee to play his A-game. Republicans who underestimate him need look no further than Trump to see Newsom’s game plan.