California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s wrath against President Donald Trump continues – and while it puts him at the forefront of conversations about 2028, his Trump-esque antics have also invited criticism from fellow Democrats back at home.
Indeed, Newsom remains at the top of his party’s roster, thanks in large part to his ability to position himself as Democrats’ loudest – or only – counterweight to Trump. But Newsom’s growing appetite for confrontation, both nationally and within California, raises flags about where the governor’s priorities really lie.
Since the deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles last June, Newsom has distanced himself from his party’s usual high-road strategy, opting for a more aggressive approach that draws much inspiration from Trump’s own playbook.
Most recently, after a string of nine major universities across the country received a proposal from the president to abide by certain demands – including changes to admissions procedures, faculty hiring, and policies around gender identity – in exchange for priority access to federal grants, the governor urged the University of Southern California to “do the right thing” and reject the deal.
His suggestion comes alongside a threat to pull state funding immediately from schools in California who opt to sign on. Whether any of this is legal – let alone good politics – remains to be seen, but it underscores Newsom’s commitment to attempt to try to replicate Trump’s style and rhetoric.
Moreover, the university deal isn’t the only thing Newsom is doubling down on when it comes to holding himself out as the Democrats’ lone able – and willing – fighter.
Amid the ongoing government shutdown, Newsom pressed Democrats to stand firm in their decision to not sign onto a continuing resolution with Republicans, despite the party’s desire to compromise.
“You take Donald Trump on his word? Come on. No one is that naive,” the governor stated Friday. Of course, the fact that as governor, Newsom bears no responsibility for the shutdown yet can score political points by urging Democrats elected to the House and Senate to hold the line is a point lost on few.
In other words, by pushing Congressional Democrats to remain steadfast, Newsom is able to pad his resume as a fighter, knowing he will shoulder none of the blame if the shutdown extends into U.S. soldiers missing paychecks, healthcare premiums spiking, or other consequences.
It should be more than evident that this signals a future White House bid for Newsom. And although it has helped him dominate headlines and raise his national profile, some Democrats have expressed doubts regarding his social media trolling and his handling of California’s most contentious issues.
“I would like to see our governor be laser focused on addressing the basics,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan argued, referring to Newsom’s recent abandonment of local issues in favor of raising his national profile. Mahan continued, “I fear a politics that devolves into pure rhetoric, partisan bickering.”
While Mahan’s view of Newsom might be in the minority for now, Newsom cannot afford to ignore these concerns. If Democrats hope to offer voters an alternative to Trumpism next election cycle, their standard-bearer cannot look like its mirror image.
Put another way, it’s crucial that Newsom maintains opposition to Trump while also delivering results – and certainly not at the expense of losing support in his home state.
Nonetheless, Newsom is seemingly determined to take the reins of his party as no other Democratic challenger has shown much promise in steering them towards victory in 2028.
And while Newsom’s latest efforts may garner support from liberal voters eager to see Democrats fight back, it doesn’t erase the risks associated with what he calls his “no regrets” strategy.
For one, focusing too much on resistance to Trump could cost him moderate or undecided voters – the very people Democrats need to win over if they want to avoid another devastating presidential loss – especially in a general election. The electorate outside of California is unlikely to be as receptive to a candidate whose overriding agenda boils down to “stop Trump at any and all costs, everything else is secondary.”
It could also frustrate Democrats – like Mahan – who oppose Newsom’s recent Trump-style approach and prefer pragmatic governance over petty politics. If Democrats begin to see Newsom more as a liability – or even single-minded leader – and less as a unifying leader with an actual agenda, his national ambitions might collapse before they ever take full form.
Taken together, it’s safe to say that Newsom’s gamble is high-risk, high-reward. If he can continue to stand up to Trump without becoming the next Trump, he could be on an uncontested path to the top of Democrats’ 2028 ticket.
However, if Newsom falls short, he’s in danger of more than just playing into Trump’s hands by reinforcing the idea that no Democrat can successfully oppose him. Newsom is also risking severely damaging his own White House ambitions if he can no longer hold himself out to be the one Democrat able to even get in the ring with the president.
Douglas Schoen is a longtime Democratic political consultant.