Nancy Pelosi pushes Newsom for 2028 Democratic presidential bid: report

WASHINGTON, DC: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is reportedly working behind the scenes to position California Governor Gavin Newsom as a leading Democratic contender for the 2028 presidential election. Sources familiar with the matter told Axios that Pelosi has quietly backed Newsom, using her influential network of donors to elevate his national profile.

Newsom has emerged as one of President  Donald Trump's most vocal critics, and Pelosi’s support is seen as a strategic boost for his future White House ambitions.

Nancy Pelosi’s support for Gavin Newsom grows ahead of 2028

Even after retiring from Congress, Pelosi remains active in Democratic politics. According to former aides, she has been a consistent supporter of Newsom, praising his leadership and political instincts.

"She's a Gavin fan-girl, and she doesn't crush on many people," a former Pelosi aide told Axios. "I will say this: She's hardly ever wrong. When she says she sees something, it's a real thing." Pelosi reportedly vouched for Newsom both publicly and privately, admiring how he handled the Trump era with a combination of defiance and charm.

Nancy Pelosi publicly highlights Gavin Newsom’s leadership and political strengths

In recent interviews, Pelosi has repeatedly highlighted Newsom’s strengths. In The New Yorker, she called him “masterful” in leadership, vision, and strategic thinking. In Vogue, she noted, “I've seen him grow politically, I've also seen him have this beautiful family, and for all of us who love him, seeing him evolve has been wonderful to behold.”

Challenging the perception that Newsom benefited from privilege, Pelosi told The Atlantic, “Everybody thinks of Gavin and a silver spoon. But that isn’t right. He was a very hard worker in everything that he did, whether it was personally, professionally, and then civically.” More recently, speaking to Politico, Pelosi said, “He’d make a great president,” while acknowledging the Democratic field for 2028 remains strong.

Gavin Newsom praises Nancy Pelosi as a model of selfless public service

The collaboration between Newsom and Pelosi was visible during last year’s redistricting referendum, aimed at helping Democrats in the midterms. The day before the vote, the two held a joint press conference, praising each other.

“Nancy Pelosi doesn't go out to try to make points, she makes a difference,” Newsom said at the time. “Nancy, thank you for your inspiration. Thank you for your work, thank you for allowing us to build on that."

Newsom’s spokesperson Lindsey Cobia, told Axios, "Gov. Newsom believes Speaker Pelosi is the epitome of selfless public service and will go down in history as one of the most consequential leaders of our time."

For now, Pelosi is focused on helping Democrats reclaim the House and supporting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as speaker. How actively she will promote Newsom publicly after leaving Congress remains uncertain.