Newsom Dismisses Rivalry Rumors with Harris

California governor says claims he and VP don't get along are "preposterous"

Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:19pm by Ben Kaplan

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed back on assertions that he has had a deep-seated rivalry with former Vice President Kamala Harris, calling the premise "preposterous." Newsom and Harris have known each other since the early 2000s when they were both rising political stars in San Francisco politics. While their relationship has been marked by questions over which ambitious Bay Area Democrat would run for higher office, Newsom said they have maintained a good working relationship over the years.

Why it matters

The relationship between Newsom and Harris, two prominent California Democrats, has long been the subject of speculation and rumors of rivalry. Newsom's comments aim to dispel those notions and present a united front as they both consider future political ambitions.

The details

Newsom and Harris first crossed paths in San Francisco politics in the early 2000s. Newsom married Kimberly Guilfoyle, who briefly overlapped with Harris at the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and clashed with her. Harris later won election as District Attorney in the same 2003 election that Newsom won the mayor's race. In 2005, Newsom divorced Guilfoyle. Over the years, there have been ongoing questions about which of the two ambitious Bay Area Democrats would run for higher office, but Newsom says they worked out a deal that allowed Harris a clear path to the U.S. Senate in 2016 while he ran for governor two years later.

  • Newsom and Harris first crossed paths in San Francisco politics in the early 2000s.
  • Newsom married Kimberly Guilfoyle, who briefly overlapped with Harris at the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, in the early 2000s.
  • Harris won election as District Attorney in the same November 2003 election that Newsom won the mayor's race.
  • Newsom divorced Guilfoyle in 2005.
  • In 2016, Newsom appeared to preemptively endorse Harris' successful run for the U.S. Senate.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The current governor of California and a prominent Democratic politician.

Kamala Harris

The current Vice President of the United States and a former U.S. Senator from California.

Kimberly Guilfoyle

A conservative-leaning prosecutor turned Fox News host who briefly overlapped with Harris at the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and clashed with her.

Willie Brown

The former mayor of San Francisco who gave Newsom his start in politics as president of the city Parking and Traffic Commission in 1995.

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What they’re saying

“It's a preposterous premise to the question because we absolutely do”

— Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

“When she goes, she goes first. I've always understood that. And that's wonderful.”

— Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

What’s next

Newsom is currently in his second and final term as governor, and is widely expected to seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2028. After declining to run for governor, Harris is believed to be mulling another run for president.

The takeaway

Newsom's comments aim to dispel long-standing rumors of a rivalry between him and Harris, two prominent California Democrats with national ambitions. Despite their history of political competition, they appear to have maintained a working relationship as they both consider future runs for higher office.