California Governor Gavin Newsom appears to be actively testing the waters for a 2028 presidential campaign.
The Golden State governor is visiting the pivotal Democrat primary state of South Carolina on Tuesday and Wednesday.
During a Tuesday event with South Carolina Democrat Congressman Jim Clyburn, Newsom reportedly gave a ‘sheepish grin’ when introduced as a candidate ‘running for president.’
Clyburn hosted his annual fish fry back in May with two other men currently on the 2028 Democratic shortlist – fellow governors Wes Moore of Maryland and Tim Walz of Minnesota.
Although South Carolina Democrats appear to have given Newsom a warm welcome, reception from some of the state’s Republican members of Congress was anything but that.
GOP Congressman Russell Fry of South Carolina’s 7th District wrote on X that ‘Gavin Newsom in South Carolina today is like a kale salad at a Waffle House—confused, unwelcome, and about to get sent back.’
Congresswoman Nancy Mace challenged Newsom to a debate, noting that she would ‘bring common sense policies’ and suggesting that the Californian bring his ‘best hair gel.’
Newsom responded to Mace with ‘this you or one of your burner accounts? I honestly can’t tell these days.’
That post included a screenshot of an article that alleged Mace instructed her staff to use ‘burner accounts’ to ‘hype her up.’
The California gov also took shots of his own at GOP Senator Lindsey Graham, sharing a photo of a crowd of Democrats in Graham’s hometown along with the caption ‘Happy Birthday, @LindseyGrahamSC! Great to be in a packed room in your hometown this morning!’
The South Carolina Senator quipped back at the California Governor, writing on X that ‘if you’ve ever wondered how many liberals there are in Seneca, South Carolina… we now know they can all fit in one room with Governor @GavinNewsom!’
Graham is running for re-election to the U.S. Senate in the 2026 midterms next year.
Republicans in Newsom’s home state meanwhile took to X to voice their frustrations about their governor taking a cross country trip while his own state is suffering.
The Los Angeles region has recently fallen victim to tragedy, both natural and man made.
Less than six months ago, devastating wildfires burned through the LA region, and just last month, manmade fires burned as riots raged in Los Angeles over the presence of ICE officers on the region.
Republican David Tangipa, a member of the California State Assembly, wrote on X, ‘I can’t think of anything more disrespectful— @GavinNewsom is in South Carolina while LA still looks like this 6 months after the fire.’
Including a photo of a burned out beachside California town in his post, Tangipa added ‘this photo was taken this week. When Californians need their Governor, he’s not even in the state.’
The California Republican party also chimed in on their govs trip.
‘While @GavinNewsom is in South Carolina today, maybe he should ask its @GOP governor, @HenryMcMaster why South Carolina’s gas prices are less than half as much as they are here. Gavin could learn something to benefit Californians rather than lecturing Americans 3,000 miles away,’ the CA GOP posted on X.
Steve Hinton, a Republican running for governor to replace the term-limited Newsom posted a video to X decrying the governor’s trip, noting that ‘he spends his time ‘trolling Trump’ and filing pathetic lawsuits. What an insult to every Californian.’
Trolling appears to be what Newsom does best, much better than actually governing.
While his state has suffered, Newsom has made headlines with his recently released podcast.
He’s hosted conversations with the likes former Trump White House Strategist and War Room host Steve Bannon, and Turning Point USA founder and conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.