That single sentence immediately put Harris at the center of speculation surrounding Newsom’s next political move.
Harris, meanwhile, has not closed the door on another presidential campaign. The former vice president has previously indicated that she is considering what comes next, leaving open the possibility that she could seek the Democratic nomination again in 2028.
For Newsom, however, a direct contest with Harris would create a particularly complicated political situation.
Both Democrats have deep roots in California politics and have spent decades operating within overlapping political networks. Harris served as California attorney general before entering the U.S. Senate and ultimately becoming vice president. Newsom rose through San Francisco politics before becoming lieutenant governor and later governor.
Newsom specifically pointed to their shared political circles when explaining why he would avoid a primary fight with Harris.
“I know her base of supporters; I know her friends,” Newsom said. “I wouldn’t do that to people.”
The governor also suggested that a bruising primary battle between the two California Democrats could benefit the other candidates competing for the nomination.
“They’d enjoy the hell out of it. Mutual assured destruction. It services no greater good. Why would I do this if I wasn’t trying to serve some greater good? There would be no upside whatsoever,” Newsom said.
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Newsom’s comments make clear that he views a Harris-Newsom showdown as more than an ordinary primary contest. He described the two political networks as having substantial overlap, meaning that a battle between them could potentially force longtime allies, donors and supporters to choose sides.
Tapper then raised another obvious argument Newsom could make if he ever did decide to challenge Harris: experience.
Harris has already sought the presidency twice, running in 2020 and later becoming the Democratic nominee in 2024. Newsom, by contrast, has never been a presidential candidate.
When Tapper pointed out that Newsom could emphasize the fact that Harris has already had two opportunities while he has never run, Newsom acknowledged that it could become part of a campaign strategy.
“That would be the case you’d make. Pretty good one, actually. You know, that’s objectively true,” Newsom said.
But even after acknowledging the argument, Newsom returned to the same issue: the considerable overlap between their political supporters.
The governor described their political circles as having substantial crossover and indicated that he does not want to turn those relationships into a bitter primary fight.
“The Zen diagram on that is just pure crossover. It’s not. I wouldn’t do that too. I wouldn’t do that to people,” Newsom said.
Newsom’s comments are especially notable because he has been increasingly active outside California as speculation about his political future grows.
The governor recently traveled to South Carolina, a state that plays an important role in the Democratic presidential nominating calendar. During that trip, Newsom openly discussed the possibility of seeking the presidency in 2028. AP reported that his South Carolina appearances have fueled speculation about a potential national campaign, including the emergence of “Gavin 2028” merchandise.
Newsom has also previously said he would seriously consider a presidential campaign after the 2026 midterm elections.
That makes his latest statement particularly significant. Rather than simply saying he is undecided about 2028, Newsom has now publicly identified one circumstance under which he says he would stay out of the race.
If Harris enters, Newsom says he is out.
If Harris remains on the sidelines, however, the governor’s path could look very different.
For now, neither politician has formally settled the 2028 Democratic nomination contest. Other Democrats are also considering campaigns, making the eventual field far from certain. CNN noted that Newsom himself referenced the possibility of a large Democratic field when discussing the potential contenders.
Still, Newsom’s declaration has added a fascinating twist to the early 2028 maneuvering.
The California governor appears to be keeping his presidential ambitions alive while simultaneously signaling that he does not intend to wage war against Harris for the nomination.
That leaves a simple question hanging over the Democratic race: Will Kamala Harris decide whether Gavin Newsom runs for president?
For the moment, Newsom has made his position unusually clear. If Harris runs, he says he will step aside.
