Gavin Newsom told CNN he would not run for president in 2028 if Kamala Harris enters the race, saying a contested primary between them would be divisive and strategically unhelpful. Early national polls show both Democrats narrowly outperforming Republican VP JD Vance in hypothetical matchups — Emerson found Harris 49–45 and Newsom 49–44. Newsom reiterated he declined to challenge President Biden in 2024 because he lacked a compelling reason and stressed the personal costs of a presidential campaign.
Newsom Says He'd Stand Aside if Kamala Harris Runs as Early Polls Show Both Leading JD Vance
Gavin Newsom speaks during a rally with Harris County Democrats at the IBEW local 716 union hall on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Houston and Kamala Harris speaks at the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference, Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in Miami Beach, Fla.
California Governor Gavin Newsom told CNN's Jake Tapper that he would not launch a 2028 presidential bid if former Vice President Kamala Harris enters the race, saying he would defer to her to avoid a divisive Democratic primary.
"I wouldn't run if she ran," Newsom said in the interview that aired Monday. "Of course not, why would I? I wouldn't do that to her. I wouldn't do that to you. I wouldn't waste everyone's time. Who needs that?"
Newsom argued a primary contest between two high-profile Democrats with overlapping constituencies would be counterproductive. "First of all, electorally, it's a gift from God for everybody else," he said. "It services no greater good." Tapper noted Harris has twice had opportunities to run for president while Newsom has not; Newsom acknowledged that dynamic, saying it would shape a campaign narrative.
Where Polls Stand
Several early national polls show both Newsom and Harris performing competitively in hypothetical 2028 general-election matchups against Republican Vice President JD Vance. An Emerson College survey conducted Aug. 16–17 among 1,000 likely voters found Harris ahead of Vance, 49% to 45%, and Newsom ahead of Vance, 49% to 44%. A Yahoo News poll listed by RealClearPolitics on Sept. 5 showed Newsom at 49% and Vance at 41%.
An earlier Zogby Analytics poll (Jan. 1–7, n=891 likely voters) found Harris leading Vance 48.5% to 42.1% (9.4% undecided). In that Zogby head-to-head, Vance led Newsom 44.6% to 41.0% (14.3% undecided); the poll reported a margin of error of ±3.3 percentage points.
Democratic Primary Testing
Among Democratic primary surveys, Harris has generally polled ahead of Newsom in recent national testing. A Financial Times poll (Sept. 6) showed Harris at 29% and Newsom at 14% among potential Democratic primary voters. A Harvard-Harris poll (Sept. 2) put Harris at 42% and Newsom at 18%, while a Morning Consult survey (Aug. 31) measured Harris at 24% and Newsom at 12%. RealClearPolitics' Democratic primary average currently lists Harris near the mid-20s and Newsom in the low teens.
Newsom's Past Decision and Personal Considerations
Newsom reiterated why he did not mount a 2024 primary challenge to President Joe Biden, saying he "wasn't ready" and that he lacked a compelling rationale to run. "I would have gotten crushed because I didn't have a why," he said, adding that any White House hopeful must have a clear purpose and the personal readiness — including family support — to meet the demands of a campaign.
Newsweek reached out to representatives for both Harris and Newsom for comment. Analysts caution that early polling is fluid, sample-dependent and years ahead of the 2028 election cycle, so these matchups should be viewed as preliminary snapshots rather than predictions.
Polling Notes
Poll dates, sample sizes and likely/registered voter screens vary across surveys. Early hypothetical matchups can shift considerably as campaigns form, issues evolve and candidates declare.
Help us improve.
