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Morgan’s criticism was not about style points or online theatrics. It was about sustainability. He argued that mimicking former President Donald Trump might energize certain activists and generate fundraising buzz, but it is not a long-term winning strategy.
“I think that by the time we get to 2028, America is going to be sick of meanness and chaos and that type of banter,” he said. “It gets him some money. People like meanness. But in the long run, this is a horse race.”
That is not the kind of assessment any presidential hopeful wants circulating.
But Morgan did not stop at tone. He zeroed in on what may be the governor’s biggest liability: California.
“His second problem is going to be this: undoing everything he was for in California,” Morgan said. “Remember, $350,000 in reparations for each African-American? He’s going to have to run from his woke.”
Then he asked the question that could haunt a national campaign: “How’s he going to deal with his transgender swimming positions and everything that brought him there? Usually when you’re a governor, that’s an asset. His problem is his record is far far left and far far woke.”
That is not coming from conservative talk radio. That is coming from a Democratic megadonor.
Morgan even referenced Mitt Romney and his infamous campaign pivot, asking, “Can he do the Mitt Romney etch-a-sketch? I don’t know.”
The comparison is telling. Romney’s attempts to rebrand himself midstream became political fodder. Morgan is suggesting that Newsom may face a similar credibility gap if he tries to soften or reverse his long-held positions for a national electorate.
California under Newsom has become a laboratory for some of the most progressive policies in the country. The state has positioned itself as a sanctuary for minors seeking gender procedures. Newsom signed legislation preventing schools from notifying parents if a child changes gender identity at school. At the same time, he has recently signaled discomfort with biological males competing in women’s sports during conversations with conservative media figures.
Those mixed messages could be weaponized in a general election.
Morgan’s warning carries extra weight because he has not been shy about criticizing Democrats before. After the party’s 2024 losses, he blasted the campaign apparatus and questioned massive spending decisions. He has built a reputation for speaking plainly when others choose party loyalty over candor.
That makes his comments about Newsom harder to dismiss.
A governor’s record is typically a launchpad for a presidential bid. It demonstrates executive experience and policy accomplishments. But if that record becomes a liability in key swing states, it can quickly turn into an anchor.
Newsom’s challenge is clear. He can attempt to moderate his tone and recalibrate his messaging. He can try to appeal to a broader coalition. But the policies signed into law, the interviews given, and the positions taken in California are not easily erased.
As Morgan’s remarks suggest, rebranding is easier said than done.
If one of the Democratic Party’s most powerful donors is already questioning the viability of a 2028 run, that signals deeper unease beneath the surface. The question now is whether party insiders will quietly echo Morgan’s concerns—or continue publicly promoting a narrative that even their own megadonors appear to doubt.
The road to 2028 may be longer and rockier for Gavin Newsom than his supporters are willing to admit.
