Politico declares Gavin Newsom 'frontrunner' for Democrats' 2028 presidential bid

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: California Governor Gavin Newsom was named as the early frontrunner for the Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential nomination by a column in Politico on Saturday, November 15. 

His recent actions and public persona, especially his clash with President Donald Trump, are being seen as positioning him for a national run.

Politico's Jonathan Martin makes a case for Gavin Newsom

In the column titled, "Admit It. Gavin Newsom Is the 2028 Front-runner," senior political writer Jonathan Martin argued that Gavin Newsom has positioned himself as the most viable Democratic contender for the presidency over the past two years.

Martin wrote that "no Democrat has had a better two years than Newsom," noting that the California governor combines deep political experience with a strong social media presence, especially appealing to younger voters.

He drew a comparison with past Democratic nominees such as Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.

Martin expressed, "By the old rules of Democratic nominations, Newsom fits the tradition of younger outsider candidates like Carter, Clinton, and Obama who could run fresh campaigns while reassuring party insiders." 

But he also sees Newsom as a figure for “the new rules of politics,” someone who can become famous through his social media strategy.

According to Martin, Newsom’s more centrist and inclusive approach is another major strength; he is “not fully comfortable in either faction” of his party, giving him broad appeal. 

Moreover, Martin emphasized how Newsom has publicly focused his opposition to Trump, turning it into a central foil in his politics. 

He credited Newsom’s willingness to mock Trump online with helping him build a strong rapport with the "anti‑Trump coalition even winning over skeptics within his own party."

Jonathan Martin on Gavin Newsom's strategic moves

Jonathan Martin dubbed Gavin Newsom an “early front-runner,” basing it on his ability to read the political moment and make strategic choices. He pointed to recent high-stakes clashes between Newsom and Trump, including over redistricting and the Los Angeles wildfires.

"The newly-elected president, perhaps the most galvanizing political foil the country has ever known, picked a fight with Newsom over the Los Angeles wildfires shortly into 2025. And then Trump elevated the governor further by deploying the National Guard and active-duty Marines into the city by the summer," he wrote. 

Martin argued that Newsom’s actions and his vocal resistance to Trump have elevated his national profile in a way that few others in the Democratic Party currently match.

Part of Newsom’s appeal, according to Martin, lies in how he frames his political identity. He wants the Democratic Party to be “inclusive.” “I want it to be the Manchin to Mamdani party,” the governor told the governor.