California Made Gavin Newsom Famous. Could It Hurt His 2028 Presidential Run?

California Governor Gavin Newsom traveled to South Carolina last week, and it was clear he had more than one goal in mind. He held eight public events across the state, talking to voters and attacking President Donald Trump. South Carolina is important because it will hold the first Democratic presidential primary in 2028. Many people watching his trip believe Newsom is already running for president, even if he hasn't said so officially.

People at Newsom's events were selling 'Gavin 2028' buttons outside the venues. His allies and supporters openly talked about his hopes for the White House. People close to him quietly called a presidential run 'the next thing.' Newsom himself told the Associated Press he thinks a campaign will happen 'very, very quickly,' and he may announce his decision before the end of the year.

However, Newsom faces a big challenge that he cannot easily fix. His home state of California is seen by many Americans as too liberal, or too far to the left. Some people across the country — even some Democrats — connect California to high taxes, big government, and a lifestyle that feels very different from the rest of the nation. Voters in South Carolina said this could make it hard for Newsom to win support from people in other parts of the country.

Vera DeVito, a 78-year-old Democrat, packed into one of Newsom's events in Summerville, South Carolina. She admitted she didn't know much about him other than where he was from. Just knowing he was from California made her think supporting him could be 'risky.' She said, 'It's going to be hard for him to appeal to the whole country. Everybody thinks California is different — especially in the South.'

Newsom would also face competition from other likely Democratic candidates. Pete Buttigieg is from Michigan, and Governor Josh Shapiro is from Pennsylvania. Both of those states are considered 'battlegrounds,' meaning they could vote for either party in a general election. Many experts believe candidates from battleground states have a better shot at winning over moderate and independent voters, who often decide presidential elections.

Newsom's team has a name for the dislike of California — they call it 'California derangement syndrome.' They point out that California has produced many failed presidential candidates over the years, including former governors Pete Wilson and Jerry Brown, businessman Tom Steyer, and most recently Vice President Kamala Harris. In fact, the last California governor to win the presidency was Ronald Reagan, and that was nearly 50 years ago.

Still, Newsom's team argues that he is skilled at pushing back against this kind of criticism. He has appeared often on Fox News, debated Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and was a top supporter of former President Joe Biden. Newsom says that critics have always told California's story, and he believes he can tell it better himself. 'We've got the receipts,' he told the AP, meaning California has real results to show for its progressive policies.

Newsom's visit to South Carolina was part of his 'take it back tour' across Southern states. He argues that President Trump and Republicans are rolling back civil rights in America. He also spent time in Alabama and North Carolina during the same trip. At every stop, he called on Democrats to fight harder against Trump and his policies.

Voters who showed up to see Newsom had mixed opinions. Many liked his energy and his willingness to stand up to Trump. Kirk Bovill, a 65-year-old semi-retired actor from Summerville, said Newsom 'doesn't have a problem standing up to Trump' and is 'not intimidated.' But Bovill also wondered if some voters might think Newsom is 'too Hollywood.'

Republican protesters showed up outside some of Newsom's events. They waved signs that read 'Wrong Coast' and 'Clean Up Your State First.' CJ Westfall, a Republican county chairman in South Carolina, called Newsom 'a far-left extreme Democrat.' He said flatly, 'We don't want Gavin Newsom to California our South Carolina.'

Supporters of Newsom point to real achievements in his state. Under his leadership, California has expanded health care, raised the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 an hour, provided free school meals to all students, and passed strong climate and gun laws. California is also the most populated state in the country and has the fourth-largest economy in the entire world. Newsom believes those facts could help him win over Democratic voters who want a candidate with a proven record.