2028 Democratic presidential nominee
$123.9M
NOV 7, 2028Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleGovernor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyLiberal Democrat
GenderMale
LocationCalifornia
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BackgroundPolitician
EducationSanta Clara University (B.S.)
Notable personal detailsGavin Christopher Newsom is an American politician and businessman who has served as the 40th governor of California since 2019. He previously served as the 49th lieutenant governor of California (2011–2019) and as the 42nd mayor of San Francisco (2004–2011). He attended Santa Clara University and founded the PlumpJack Group, which managed restaurants, hotels, and wineries across California.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted revenue-raising measures and state investment in programs while opposing a state wealth tax; has backed business tax changes and refundable tax relief for households. Positions emphasize expanding social programs and economic development while resisting large one-off wealth taxes.
Healthcare
Supports expanding government-run coverage and access to care through Medi‑Cal expansions, prescription drug cost controls, and state health-investment initiatives while opposing Republican proposals that would cut coverage; pursues incremental, state-level expansions rather than advocating for single‑payer/Medicare for All. Newsom has used executive actions and budgets to expand Medi‑Cal eligibility, invest in behavioral and women’s health, and seek greater state bargaining power on drug prices.
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Immigration & Border
Supports protections for immigrant communities including DACA recipients and a congressional pathway to citizenship, while criticizing aggressive federal immigration raids and expanding state-level immigrant protections. Has backed state laws and proclamations that limit local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement and expand services for immigrants, but has also defended targeted cooperation with federal authorities in cases involving serious or violent offenders.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports broad legal access to abortion and measures to protect and expand reproductive-health services in California, including eliminating out-of-pocket costs, protecting medication abortion and patient privacy, and enacting laws shielding providers and patients from out-of-state prosecutions. Has signed multiple laws and proposed funding packages to strengthen abortion access and called for California to be a refuge for people seeking reproductive care from restrictive states.
Climate & Energy
Supports aggressive climate action including legally codified carbon neutrality by 2045, phasing out gasoline-powered passenger vehicle sales by 2035 and large reductions in fossil fuel consumption, and major clean-energy buildout (offshore wind, battery storage, ZEV deployment) with substantial state investment. Has extended and strengthened market mechanisms and regulatory measures (cap-and-trade/cap-and-invest, clean car/truck mandates) and advanced targets for 90%+ clean electricity by midcentury. Policy record includes executive orders, state plans, and legislation to reduce oil demand,支持
Public Safety & Guns
Gavin Newsom supports significant gun-safety measures including strengthening and expanding red flag laws, restricting ghost guns and certain semiautomatic weapons, raising regulatory and fiscal measures on firearms and ammunition, and backing stronger statewide and federal limits to reduce gun violence. As governor he has repeatedly signed packages of gun-control bills and called for federal action such as a renewed assault-weapons ban and universal background checks.
News
Gavin Newsom is drawing new attention as a possible 2028 Democratic presidential contender, boosted by recent polling and prediction-market odds that put him ahead of other Democrats, including Kamala Harris in one early matchup. He has been promoting a memoir on a national book tour, which is also fueling speculation about a future run after his term ends in January 2027. The tour has brought backlash from conservatives over remarks seen as racially insensitive and from LGBTQ+ advocates over his call for Democrats to be more “culturally normal.”
Newsom has twice more support than Harris in early 2028 poll
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Newsom, Harris and the frenemies primary
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising