California Governor Gavin Newsom converted his confrontational social-media persona into a real-world spectacle at the DNC winter meeting, drawing steady crowds seeking selfies and conversation. Delegates credited his X posts and California redistricting push (Prop 50) with energizing activists and boosting his national profile, while he held private meetings with party leaders from early states. Praise for his accessibility and humor was tempered by concerns about his general-election viability and the long timeline to 2028.
Newsom’s Troll Energy Steals the Spotlight at DNC Winter Meeting
LOS ANGELES — California Governor Gavin Newsom turned his online persona into an in-person spectacle at the Democratic National Committee’s winter meeting, drawing long lines of delegates who sought selfies and conversation as he moved through a downtown hotel corridor. At times the crowds were so large his aides steered him away, and he resorted to group photos to keep pace.
From Social Media to Real-Life Momentum
Newsom's brash, often mocking posts on X have shifted from routine messaging to a deliberately provocative style that many activists say has energized the party’s base. Delegates at the DNC described his hallway appearances as part celebrity moment, part grassroots engagement — and a visible sign of his rising profile as a likely 2028 contender.
“I loooove the trolling that they’re doing,” said Pamela Castellana, a vice-chair of the Florida Democratic Party, praising Newsom and his social team for posts that have taken on a performative, Trump-mocking edge. “I don’t think that it’s necessarily going to get them elected, but it really is encouraging people. They have something to fight back with.”
Why Delegates Noticed
Polling has placed Newsom at or near the top of early 2028 surveys, and his aggressive ballot-redistricting measure in California — widely referred to by activists as Prop 50 — has been credited with improving Democrats' prospects in next year’s House races. In Los Angeles, Newsom held private conversations with DNC Chair Ken Martin and party leaders from early-voting states including Nevada and New Hampshire, according to a person familiar with the meetings.
He also met with a Missouri delegation about that state's effort to place a referendum delaying mid-decade GOP-drawn maps on the ballot and suggested he could use his large grassroots email list to help raise funds for the effort.
Accessibility, Humor — and Lingering Doubts
Delegates praised Newsom’s willingness to engage one-on-one. Sophia Danenberg, a DNC member from Washington, said his hallway accessibility stood out compared with a politician who only gives speeches from a podium. Kimberly Metcalfe, a former national committee member from Alaska, said she left with a fresher impression of the governor.
At the same time, many stopped short of pledging support for a future presidential run, noting the long timeline to 2028 and the persistent question of whether a Californian with a liberal reputation can win a general election. National committeeman Dennis Olson of South Dakota warned that opponents would frame Newsom as emblematic of coastal liberalism.
“It will be, I guarantee you. Because it’ll be ‘the liberals out there,’” Olson said, summarizing how he expects Republicans to attack a California governor’s candidacy.
Even fellow Californians offered mixed appraisals. David Atkins, vice chair of the Santa Barbara County party, called Newsom a "mixed bag" but praised his social-media strategy for effectively dramatizing and mocking President Trump’s rhetoric.
Whether Newsom’s blend of humor, accessibility and hardball redistricting politics can translate into durable national support — and withstand general-election attacks — remains an open question as 2028 approaches. For now, his presence at the DNC added celebrity energy and sparked conversation among rank-and-file activists and party leaders alike.
