Gavin Newsom, an ultra-progressive politician who avoided being removed from office in his state due to opposition to his COVID-19 legislation, has long been rumored to be considering a bid for the presidency.
He even went so far as to criticize Ron DeSantis in nasty advertisements and billboards in an effort to distance himself from the well-liked Florida governor.
Gavin Newsom, the governor of the biggest state in the union, has won three elections in the last five years. He is apoplectic about the messaging flaws in his party and follows Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the right-wing media ecosystem with a zeal that would put some opposition researchers to shame.
However, Newsom wants it known that he won’t run against President Biden for the Democratic candidacy in 2024.
The governor of California has good cause to believe that he is in charge. In the previous five years, he has won three elections. But if he believes he can win the popular electoral vote, he is likely overestimating the scope of his national support. While staying away from the majority of extremist opinions, Joe Biden won the 2020 election from a basement. Newsom lacks a filter like that.
His lack of restraint is evident in the bizarre advertising he aired against DeSantis. His attempt to nationalize his brand was not particularly successful. Although it made news, Newsom nearly lost his job in his own state. DeSantis transformed a governorship he narrowly won in 2018 into a 20-point victory in 2022, gaining support from demographics formerly thought of as Democratic lock-ins including black and Hispanic Americans.
