One prominent Democratic official was seemingly scarce around the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last week.
That would be California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was previously considered one of the frontrunners to replace President Joe Biden at the top of his party’s ticket. Newsom was reportedly offered a primetime speaking slot at the convention’s first night, but he turned it down, saying he had scheduling conflicts.
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When Newsom did speak to the media at the DNC, he was very enthusiastic about the candidacy of his fellow Californian Kamala Harris. The two have a history that goes back decades – Harris served as San Francisco’s District Attorney from 2004 to 2011, the same years that Newsom was the city’s mayor. Harris was then elevated to California Attorney General, while Newsom became Lieutenant Governor.
During the convention’s ceremonial roll call, Newsom touted Harris’ history as a prosecutor, saying it’s “time for us to do the right thing and elect Kamala Harris as president of the United States.”
But behind the scenes, there could be some bitterness about Harris’ star finally eclipsing Newsom’s.
Newsom himself alluded to the tension during an interview on “Pod Save America.” When asked how he felt about the nomination process, he laughed and said, “We went through a very open process, a very inclusive process. It was bottom up, I don’t know if you know that. That’s what I’ve been told to say.”
L.A. Times political columnist Mark Barabak peeled back the curtain on the strained relationship between Newsom and Harris in a Tuesday column. He talked about it with KNX News Chief Correspondent Charles Feldman.
“One can imagine, or pretty clearly see, if Kamala Harris is elected president, that would seem to take Gavin Newsom out of commission for four years,” Barabak said. “If she runs again and succeeds in 2028, then it's 2032 until Gavin Newsom can run again. And he joked that at that point, he's not that old, but he joked he hopes to be walking, not using a cane at that point.”
Newsom terms out as California governor in 2026, and it’s unclear what he plans to do afterward. Barabak pointed out that after Ronald Reagan termed out as California governor in 1975, he spent the next few years positioning himself for a presidential run.
“There was an incumbent of the other party in office,” he said. “That could be the case again if Donald Trump wins in November, then you could see Gavin Newsom helping to lead the quote-unquote resistance.”
As far as Newsom taking a position in the Harris cabinet if she’s elected, Barbarak said he “wouldn’t rule it out.”
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