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By Andrew Stanton
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California Governor Gavin Newsom is heading to South Carolina, likely to be a key Democratic primary state, amid speculation he plans to run for president in 2028.
Newsweek reached out to Newsom's office for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Newsom has long been believed to be a potential presidential candidate for Democrats, and his trip to early-voting South Carolina is likely to continue to fuel that speculation. Newsom has cast himself as a leading rival to President Donald Trump amid his second term in office. Several prominent Democrats are expected to jump into the race. While the primary is still more than two years away, potential candidates are already making early moves with the goal of giving themselves an advantage among Democratic primary voters.
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What to Know
The South Carolina Democratic Party (SCDP) announced a multi-county tour with Newsom across some of the most "economically challenged and environmentally vulnerable rural counties in South Carolina" next week.
Several of these counties have experienced "hardship" from job loss, wildfires and hurricanes, the SCDP wrote in a statement, adding that the rural areas have been "left behind" by Republican leaders in the state.
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It will also give Newsom the opportunity to engage with voters in what is likely to be an early-voting state.
South Carolina voted first in the 2024 primary but has long been among the four first states to vote—along with Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire. Whether the schedule may change remains unclear at this point.
Making an early trip to South Carolina will allow Newsom to build name recognition and begin his messaging, Scott Huffmon, director of the Winthrop Poll Initiative in South Carolina, told Newsweek. Although people who follow politics closely may be familiar with Newsom, many voters are still less aware of who Newsom is, he said.
"He can also start making connections with local party and elected officials. Endorsements rarely win elections (obvious exception: Trump in GOP), but tapping into the network of local officials can be critical," he said.
Whether or not Newsom can appeal to Black women will be crucial for his campaign in the state, as Black voters make up two-thirds and women make up 60 percent of the state's Democratic primary electorate, Huffmon said.
"There is no 'magic issue,'" he said. "SC Democrats have been promised the world by primary candidates in the past only to feel brushed aside once the primary is over since SC isn't in play for the general election. A California governor may seem disconnected to the concerns of SC Democrats, so coming early and establishing a rapport with the voters is important."
The statement, however, makes no mention of his potential 2028 ambitions.
SCDP Chair Christale Spain wrote in a statement that Newsom "leads the largest economy in America and the fourth largest in the world" and is "coming to meet folks in towns that have been hollowed out by decades of Republican control."
"This is about building partnerships, uplifting communities, and showing rural voters they aren't forgotten," Spain wrote.
Gavin Newsom's Chance of Winning 2028 Primary—Polls
Newsom has been among the leading candidates in most polls of the 2028 primary, along with former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The latest Morning Consult poll of the potential 2028 field showed that Newsom's standing doubled after the Los Angeles protests over Trump's immigration policies and mass deportations. Eleven percent said they planned to support him, up from 5 percent in March. Still, 34 percent said they leaned toward Harris. Seven percent said they planned to vote for Buttigieg and Ocasio-Cortez.
The poll surveyed 1,000 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents from June 13 to June 15, 2025.
An Emerson College poll last month showed Newsom with 12 percent support, compared to 16 percent for Buttigieg, 13 percent for Harris and 7 percent for Ocasio-Cortez.
The poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters from June 24 to June 25, 2025, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
What People Are Saying
Spain wrote in the press release: "Our strategy isn't about chasing cable news coverage, it's about showing up and building trust, town by town, county by county, that is our path back to power. We're proud of the gains we are making but we're even more focused on what's ahead."
Newsom told The Wall Street Journal in June: "I'm not thinking about running, but it's a path that I could see unfold."
What Happens Next
Typically, most candidates do not begin announcing presidential runs until after the midterm elections. Newsom has not confirmed plans to run for president.
Update 7/4/2025 4:38 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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