California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he will not run for president in 2028 if former Vice President Kamala Harris decides to seek the Democratic nomination.
Newsom made the unusually direct declaration during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper while the two were fly-fishing in Montana.
“I don’t know if she runs, but we’ll see,” Newsom said before adding, “But I wouldn’t run if she ran.”
Tapper appeared surprised and asked Newsom to confirm that Harris entering the race would keep him out.
“Of course not. Why would I?” Newsom responded.
Newsom said he would not want to put Harris, himself or Democratic voters through what he described as an unnecessary confrontation between two politicians with heavily overlapping bases of support.
“I wouldn’t do that to her,” Newsom said, adding that he also would not “waste everyone’s time.”
Tapper noted that one possible argument for Newsom running anyway would be that Harris has already had two opportunities to seek the presidency while Newsom has never mounted a national campaign.
Newsom acknowledged that argument as “objectively true” and even described it as a potentially strong case someone could make for his candidacy.
He nevertheless said he understands how politically destructive a contest between himself and Harris could become.
Newsom pointed specifically to the overlap among Harris supporters, donors and political allies who also have connections to him.
“The Venn diagram on that is just pure crossover,” Newsom said.
Both Newsom and Harris built their political careers in California and have long operated within many of the same Democratic political circles.
Harris served as California attorney general before winning election to the U.S. Senate and later becoming vice president.
Newsom previously served as lieutenant governor before winning the governorship in 2018.
His name has repeatedly surfaced among possible Democratic presidential candidates for 2028, although Newsom has not formally announced a campaign.
Harris likewise has not announced whether she intends to seek the presidency again after losing the 2024 general election to Donald Trump.
Current national polling illustrates why the potential decisions of both Californians are attracting attention.
The RealClearPolitics national Democratic primary average currently shows Harris at 24.5 percent, Newsom at 13.5 percent and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 12.8 percent.
Newsom tells @jaketapper he won’t run in 2028 if Kamala Harris runs. pic.twitter.com/auDjNdBlyr
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) September 14, 2026
California Gov. Newsom tells CNN’s Jake Tapper that he won’t run for president in 2028 if Kamala Harris decides to run. https://t.co/E13j0o3dOd pic.twitter.com/tyexXrLAwC
— CNN (@CNN) September 14, 2026
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stands at 11 percent in the same average, while Sen. Jon Ossoff is at 8.8 percent.
Those figures remain highly preliminary because the 2028 nominating contests are still more than a year away and neither Harris nor Newsom has officially entered the race.
Newsom’s comments nevertheless represent one of his clearest statements yet about the circumstances under which he would decline to seek the presidency.
Rather than simply saying he would wait to see what Harris does, Newsom established a direct condition linking his potential candidacy to hers.
The governor also suggested that a simultaneous campaign could produce what he called “mutual-assured destruction” among Democrats sharing many of the same supporters.
That concern appears to be the central reason behind Newsom’s stated willingness to step aside if Harris enters the race.
The decision ultimately remains hypothetical because Harris has not announced her intentions for 2028. Fox News reported.
But Newsom has now removed at least one major uncertainty from the emerging Democratic field by saying clearly that voters should not expect to see both California Democrats competing against each other for the nomination.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
