Former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany predicted on Fox that Gov. Gavin Newsom will declare a 2026 presidential bid and that Vice President Kamala Harris could follow in 2027. McEnany made the remarks in a Fox promotional video posted on X. Newsom and Harris, both from California, have a complicated public relationship, and recent signs — including Harris's expanded book tour and DNC engagement — have led some Democrats to see her as positioning for a future run.
McEnany Predicts Gavin Newsom Will Run In 2026 — Says Kamala Harris Could Follow In 2027
FILE - California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at Pasadena City College, Monday, July 7, 2025, in Pasadena, Calif.
Fox News contributor and former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany predicted in a Fox promotional video posted on X that California Governor Gavin Newsom will launch a presidential bid in 2026 and that Vice President Kamala Harris could follow with a 2027 campaign. McEnany framed the prediction as Democrats adopting a "Trump playbook" of early announcements.
What McEnany Said
"Hey there, happy 2026. Here’s my prediction: there will be a Democrat who tries to emulate and copy the Trump playbook, meaning they will declare their candidacy for the presidency before the end of next year. I believe that Democrat will be Gavin Newsom, and I believe shortly thereafter, I don’t want to scare everyone, but Kamala Harris will declare shortly after in 2027. We’ll see!"
Background And Context
Newsom and Harris — both prominent California Democrats — have a longstanding, sometimes prickly relationship often described as a "frenemy" dynamic. Their public exchanges and private anecdotes have fueled speculation about how they might position themselves in a post-2024 presidential field.
For example, on the podcast Pod Save America, Newsom quipped about the party's selection process shortly after Harris rose atop the Democratic ticket. Harris, in her campaign memoir 107 Days, recounts a terse exchange after President Biden stepped aside: she says she called Newsom to rally support and he replied, "Hiking. Will call back," adding later that he never did.
Speculation about their ambitions has persisted. Newsom is widely viewed as preparing for a national run, while Harris has been more circumspect. Axios recently reported that Harris appears to be "stepping toward" another campaign, citing an expanded book tour, an appearance before the Democratic National Committee and comments from DNC Chair Ken Martin as steps some Democrats interpret as early groundwork for a future bid.
How The Prediction Circulated
McEnany's forecast was one of several talent predictions shared by Fox. The clip has been picked up by outlets tracking the jockeying among potential Democratic contenders after the 2024 cycle.
Reporting Note: The original Fox clip was shared on X and the segment was reported on by Mediaite and other news outlets.
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