Politics
Harris–Newsom Feud Escalates Ahead of 2028 Race
By Jake Beardslee · December 10, 2025
A long-developing rift between former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom has escalated as both position themselves for potential 2028 presidential runs. The two Democrats — once closely aligned figures in California politics — have increasingly made public and private digs at one another since Harris lost the 2024 presidential race to Donald Trump.
Tensions resurfaced after Harris published 107 Days, her memoir about her short-lived campaign, in which she recounted that Newsom failed to return her call when President Joe Biden exited the race. She wrote that he instead texted, “Hiking. Will call back,” a slight she considered notable enough to memorialize in print. Although Newsom ultimately endorsed her, the anecdote highlighted the fraying relationship.
Newsom later said he confronted Harris in private about including the message, but claimed she brushed him off with, “On book tour. Get back to you later. Anyway, that’s the relationship,” according to his retelling.
Recent reporting from The New York Times indicates that several of Harris’ top former advisors — including her former chief of staff, her former consulting firm, and her former campaign manager — are now working with Newsom, further deepening the divide.
Newsom has also been working to expand his national visibility, frequently using social media to mock Trump in posts that emulate the former president’s online style. His office has adopted pointed, confrontational messaging aimed at Republicans and the Biden–Harris administration’s decisions.
Asked in a recent interview whether she would support a future President Gavin Newsom, Harris responded, “He has to make that decision if he wants to first,” before adding, “I think Gavin is very talented. I really do. And I think we have many talented people.”
For his part, Newsom admitted last October on CBS Sunday Morning that a 2028 bid is under serious consideration, stating he would “be lying” if he denied it was on his mind. He added, “I think the biggest challenge for anyone who runs for any office is that people see right through you if you don’t have that ‘why.’”
The pair’s political histories have been intertwined for decades — both were sworn into office on the same day 20 years ago and were mentored by former California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown. Despite this, cracks in the alliance have become increasingly visible. Newsom notably did not speak at Harris’ convention during her race against Trump, officially due to scheduling complications.
Since Harris’ 2024 loss, Newsom has been vocal about the Democratic Party’s broader failures without directly criticizing her. In October, he said, “We got our asses kicked and it wasn’t just Kamala — she had, there was difficult circumstances for anybody,” before arguing that, “Democrats haven’t been talking to young men, and we’ve lost them… the other side weaponized that.”
Polling suggests Newsom currently leads Harris by as much as 16 points in early assessments of the 2028 Democratic field, though one survey found California voters concerned that he is too focused on national ambitions rather than governing the state.