Newsom Sends Stronger Signals Of A 2024/2028 Presidential Run Following Donations To Charleston, SC Mayoral Candidate

According to new donation figures released during the weekend, Governor Gavin Newsom, along with other highly touted lawmakers looking at a future presidential run, donated the maximum amount in campaign funds to Charleston, SC Mayoral candidate Clay Middleton last month, signaling that he is boosting his presence in South Carolina for a future presidential run.

A Gavin Newsom presidential run has been speculated for years both inside of and outside of California. Throughout 2023, Newsom has had to make numerous statements saying that he had no interest in running for president, and that he would be supporting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the 2024 race. However, despite his insistence, as well as many pundits saying that Newsom is a non-starter because of some of the controversial laws he has passed, there have been a growing number of signs that he is getting ready for such a run.

Last year, Newsom gained media attention nationwide for a series of advertisements over singular issues in states such as Florida, Ohio, and Texas. A debate with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, widely touted as a 2024/2028 preview, is currently set to be held later this month. Newsom, who is seen by many as weak on foreign policy, recently made highly publicized trips to both Israel and China, meeting with such dignitaries such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In addition, the Governor has also been more cautious over what bills he passes in recent years, recently vetoing bills unpopular with the the majority of Americans such as a psychedelic drug decriminalization bill.

During the weekend, a new indicator was found: political fundraiser backing. Through his political action committee, Campaign for Democracy, Newsom donated the maximum amount of $1,000 to Middleton’s campaign last month. While Newsom said he made the donation to give Democrats a ‘foothold’ in the state, similar donations by other highly touted potential candidates such as Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and campaign backing by other candidates like Senator Corey Booker (D-NJ) and Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), all pointed to a likely buildup to a run.

“Middleton is running for Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, and if he can win it will give us an important foothold in a Red State,” texted Newsom earlier this month.

Evidence for a 2024/2028 Newsom presidential run builds

When questioned about the unusual amount of support coming from prominent potential presidential candidates from across the country, Middleton said that “I’m just humbled to have their support in this race. I get the national implications, but the real supporters I need are the voters that live in the city of Charleston.”

In addition to the donation, Newsom was called out by prominent Democrats this week for running a presidential campaign without announcing it. At an Iowa Democratic Party dinner in Altoona, Iowa on Saturday, Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) said that both Newsom and Congressman Dean Phillips (D-MN) were both running against Biden, but only one had announced it.

“There are two Democrats running for president right now in addition to Biden,” announced Fetterman on Saturday. “One is a congressman from Minnesota, the other is the governor of California, but only one has the guts to announce it.”

Political analysts told the Globe on Monday that Newsom’s actions in the past few months were “obvious” but also noted that time was running out for a 2024 run as the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada primaries are now only a few months away.

“Newsom and the others are all donating to a prominent South Carolina candidate,” said Melissa Spielman, a political analyst who focuses on presidential primaries, to the Globe on Monday. “South Carolina is the most prominent Democratic primary early on. Because of some changes made by the Democratic Party this year, Iowa and New Hampshire were moved back by a few weeks, making South Carolina the first state to hold a primary. Biden did it for the sake of diversity, and both Iowa and New Hampshire are still challenging it, as they both have state laws saying they should be first. But, right now, South Carolina is first.

“And look how they all jumped on that. Newsom, who says he isn’t even a candidate, is donating heavily there. Anyone even being rumored to run is doing something there. This could be a buildup to 2028, but there is also a chance that they are all campaigning heavily just in case Biden can’t or won’t run for reelection, or has to drop out of the race. There is precedent for a sitting incumbent to do that before, like LBJ in 1968. And Harris isn’t exactly an heir apparent. There’s little doubt what their motivation is.

“If they do want to challenge Biden next year, they need to act fast. Primaries are coming up soon, and time is needed for such a run. This is all likely 2028/emergency 2024 campaigning. But Fetterman was right, as well as everyone from California who has been screaming this for the past few years: Newsom is building up a run. He needs to stop being so coy about it, because that is honestly starting to rub even Democrats the wrong way now, and Newsom will need all the support he gets.

“What he says in the upcoming debate should really be telling.”

The Newsom-DeSantis debate is to be held on November 30th.