California Governor Gavin Newsom is readying for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination by positioning himself as the party’s most aggressive critic of President Donald Trump, refusing to work with the federal government and using Trump-style social media attacks to energize the Democratic base.
Newsom’s strategy of meeting “fire with fire” has catapulted him to the top of early 2028 polling, with betting site Polymarket giving him 29 percent odds for the Democratic nomination. That figure is more than twice his nearest competitor, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 14 percent, and far ahead of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 7 percent.
Now, he’s starting to gather national donors and building out a nationwide campaign strategy as he eyes the White House.
“This is a new Democratic Party. This is a new energy out there all across this country, and we are going to meet fire with fire,” Newsom said during an August 20 conference call with party leaders, responding to USA TODAY.
The 57-year-old California governor has built his early presidential campaign around leading the Democratic response to Trump’s second term, most notably through his push for partisan redistricting that would eliminate five GOP-leaning seats in California. The move came one day after the Republican-controlled Texas House passed new redistricting plans at Trump’s direction.
Newsom’s confrontational approach has generated immediate results. The term-limited governor reportedly raised $6.2 million in online donations in one week amid the redistricting battle, and his support in polling has tripled since April. An Echelon Insights poll shows Newsom holding 13 percent support among Democrats for 2028, up from just 4 percent in the same survey four months ago.
The redistricting fight has also earned praise from unlikely Democratic allies. Former President Barack Obama said he had “tremendous respect” for Newsom’s approach despite his previous opposition to “political gerrymandering” overall. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, another potential 2028 candidate, endorsed Newsom’s tactics, saying “I think that (Gavin Newsom) is doing the exact right thing in California, if these are the new rules everybody’s got to play by them.”
“And I say that as a guy not from a small, isolated state but (one) the size of 21 state populations combined that is the fourth largest economy in the world,” Newsom said. “We are going to meet this moment head-on.”
Newsom’s aggressive posture has resonated with frustrated Democrats who want someone to fight back against Trump. Hip-hop radio host Charlamagne tha God praised the governor’s approach, saying “Gavin Newsom has been doing what I’ve wanted a Democrat to do for a long time. When they go low, either you ignore them or you go to hell. He’s matching energy and I like it.”
The California governor has also adopted Trump’s social media tactics, posting all-caps rants and AI-generated memes that mock conservative figures. One recent post from Newsom’s press office read: “WOW! FOX NEWS CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT ME (GAVIN C. NEWSOM), AMERICA’S FAVORITE GOVERNOR!!! TONIGHT THEIR ENTIRE PRIMETIME LINEUP WAS ABOUT ME! JESSE WATTERS KEPT CALLING ME ‘DADDY’ (VERY WEIRD, NOT INTERESTED, BUT THANK YOU!)”
Trump has taken notice of Newsom’s rising profile, telling reporters during an August 22 Oval Office event, “I know Gavin very well. He’s an incompetent guy with a good line of (expletive).”
Newsom’s strategy appears designed to contrast himself with other potential 2028 candidates who have taken more conciliatory approaches toward Trump. Liberals criticized Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer for appearing “too cozy” with Trump after she was photographed hugging the president during an Oval Office visit in April.
The redistricting battle has inspired other blue-state governors, including those in Illinois, New York, and Maryland, to consider similar moves. Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin has endorsed the approach, signaling broader party support for Newsom’s confrontational tactics.
However, Newsom’s strategy carries significant risks. California voters oppose partisan redistricting by nearly a two-to-one margin, with 64 percent opposing it compared to 34 percent in favor. There is a well-funded GOP campaign against the measure, as well as opposition led by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
A defeat in November’s special election would be “extremely humiliating for Newsom,” according to political observers, and could undermine his argument that he is the Democrat best positioned to take on Trump.
Newsom also faces broader challenges as a potential general election candidate. As governor of deep-blue California, he is vulnerable to attacks that he is too liberal to win swing voters. Wall Street Journal polling shows voters trust Republicans over Democrats on economic issues by a 10-point margin.
Despite these concerns, Newsom’s confrontational strategy appears to be working in the early stages of the 2028 race. A UC Berkeley-Citrin Center poll found that 63 percent of national Democrats support California redistricting as a response to Texas, and 70 percent say politicians drawing congressional districts to help their party is “only acceptable if the other party does it first.”
Newsom has also gained ground in his home state, where Emerson polling shows him leading Vice President Kamala Harris 23 percent to 11 percent among California Democrats. Nationally, Harris still leads at 23 percent compared to Newsom’s 13 percent, but Newsom’s share has doubled since mid-June as he has taken a harsher stance against the Trump administration.
Democrats are facing significant challenges heading into the 2026 midterm and 2028 presidential election. A recent New York Times analysis found that Republicans have gained 4.5 million registered voters nationwide compared to Democrats.
Democratic strategist Alyssa Cass said Newsom is in a “prime position to be Trump slayer” for base Democrats.
“Now with redistricting, he’s in the middle of the ring again. He is doing everything he can to turn that target on his back into a rallying post for Democratic voters across the country.”
For now, Newsom appears to be calculating that winning the 2028 Democratic primary requires being the strongest Trump opponent, even if that approach creates general election vulnerabilities.