Gavin Newsom's Presidential Dream May Become Our Nightmare

California governor's failures as state leader could haunt his 2028 White House bid

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In his eighth year as California governor, Gavin Newsom's record is filled with failures that would get a private sector leader fired, according to a new opinion piece. The author argues that while Newsom may be the best of a bad lot of 2028 presidential candidates for Democrats, his sorry record in California is a dream for Republicans and attack ad producers.

Why it matters

Newsom is widely expected to run for president in 2028, but his tenure as California governor has been marked by a series of high-profile failures that could undermine his national ambitions. As the leader of the nation's largest progressive state, Newsom's record will be heavily scrutinized by both Democrats and Republicans.

The details

The opinion piece cites several of Newsom's major missteps as California governor, including policy failures and political missteps that have drawn widespread criticism. The author argues that Newsom's struggles in the "Bronze State" (California) will provide ample ammunition for Republican attack ads should he run for president.

  • Newsom is currently serving his eighth year as California governor.
  • The 2028 presidential election is 1,061 days away as of February 24, 2026.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The current governor of California who is widely expected to run for president in 2028.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

A U.S. Representative from New York who is also considered a potential 2028 presidential candidate.

JB Pritzker

The governor of Illinois, who is described as the "Midwestern version of Newsom without the flash."

Kamala Harris

The former Vice President who ran an unsuccessful campaign for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

Gavin Newsom's troubled tenure as California governor could haunt his potential 2028 presidential ambitions, as his failures in the nation's largest progressive state will provide ample ammunition for Republican attacks. While he may be the best of a bad lot of 2028 Democratic candidates, Newsom's record is a "dream for Republicans and the attack ad producers who support them."