It’s been pretty obvious for months now that California Gov. Gavin Newsom has his eye on the White House, and though a new report doesn’t quote straight from the horse’s mouth regarding his intentions, it does shed more light on his mindset regarding 2024.
According two well-connected California Democratic insiders, Newsom absolutely plans to throw his hat into the ring in the event President Joe Biden decides not to run again:
California Governor Gavin Newsom is “undeniably, unequivocally” planning to run for president in 2024 if President Biden chooses not to seek a second term, two individuals with knowledge of Newsom’s plans told TheWrap.
“After this midterm election is over, he absolutely is going to announce that he is running for the presidency once Biden announces that he is not running,” a leading California fundraiser with close ties to the Newsom family told TheWrap. “No ifs, ands or buts. He will run if Biden does not.”
A second individual close to the governor, a Los Angeles philanthropist with deep connections in the Democratic Party and a long history of fundraising for its candidates, confirmed Newsom’s intention to run.
In addition to the very public war of words Newsom calculatingly started against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the summer, as well as his pro-abortion campaigns against pro-life red states, The Wrap also reported that Newsom has been working to kick the fundraising machine into overdrive, and noted that he has also been huddling with “political consultants” who have “national election experience”:
There have been further indications that Newsom is preparing to beef up his war chest for a national run. According to CNBC, a Wall Street executive who raised money for Biden’s 2020 campaign met with Newsom in recent weeks. The governor has also been networking with Heather Podesta, a veteran DC lobbyist, to meet with “dozens of wealthy donors” for a Democratic Governors Association event, CNBC reported. TheWrap’s insiders also confirmed Newsom is speaking with political consultants with national election experience.
What’s especially interesting about this beyond the thought that he and DeSantis could conceivably end up facing each other in a general election match-up where no doubt the Hair Gel jokes would fly as DeSantis listed off Newsom’s leadership failures one by one is that Newsom is reportedly fully prepared to torch his political alliance with Vice President Kamala Harris, who undoubtedly would declare her candidacy if Biden bowed out.
“…the insiders TheWrap spoke with say that wouldn’t stop the governor from challenging her.”
All of this comes as Biden remains cagey on whether or not he’ll make another go for it in 2024. In his Sunday 60 Minutes interview, he wouldn’t give a straight answer, citing election law concerns or whatever:
In addition to Newsom putting out feelers for a national campaign, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has also made it known that he’s interested in giving it a third try if Biden exits stage left in two years, which would also complicate things for Harris at a time when the socialist wing of the Democratic party grows angrier by the day at repeated GOP attempts to derail their woke agenda.
In any event, between all the behind-the-scenes machinations Democrats are making ahead of 2024 and even the media gaming on possible 2024 contenders on the Democratic side, the intrigue is reaching fever pitch. I’m stocking up on the popcorn well in advance, and you should, too.