Newsom Becomes Democrat Leader?
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is using the Democrats’ shutdown meltdown as a political springboard, seizing the moment to position himself as the frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
With Democrat voters furious over the shutdown deal—calling it weak, embarrassing, and a total collapse—Newsom is stepping into the national spotlight. And he’s doing it by trying to present himself as the one Democrat willing to attack President Trump head-on.
Democrats Are Angry — and Newsom Is Cashing In
Inside the Democratic Party, the shutdown’s end has sparked widespread outrage. While Democrat leaders in Washington are being accused of caving, Newsom is selling himself as the “fighter” the left desperately wants.
Fresh off his campaign to push California’s Proposition 50, Newsom is now being hailed by strategists and donors as the only Democrat who can “stand up to Republicans” and claim victory — at least in the eyes of his base.
One Democratic strategist even admitted the obvious: “He may be the only national Democrat right now who can.”
Another strategist said Newsom “is dominating the field,” noting that other potential 2028 candidates aren’t even in the same league. The left is rallying around him not because of results, but because he mirrors the hyper-aggressive tone Democrat activists crave online.
Newsom Copies Trump’s Style While Attacking Trump
Over the past several months, Newsom has shifted to a more combative, Trump-like approach — especially on social media. After Proposition 50 passed, he immediately traveled to Texas to boast and belittle conservatives, even inventing a nickname for President Trump: “The Nodfather.”
But when the shutdown deal emerged, Newsom escalated further. He quickly blasted Senate Democrats for being “pathetic” and accused them of rolling over.
At the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, Newsom went even further, claiming Democrats had “given up” just days after their Election Day wins. He said he was “stunned” by his own party’s weakness and insisted his colleagues were still playing by “old rules.”
Newsom Wants the Presidency — and He’s Finally Saying It Out Loud
Unlike other Democrats who pretend they aren’t running, Newsom has been unusually transparent. He told CBS that he will make a decision on a presidential run next year — and admitted he’s seriously considering it.
But he won’t be the only Democrat entering the race.
Potential 2028 candidates include:
• Vice President Kamala Harris
• Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker
• Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear
• Pete Buttigieg
• And potentially Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Some on the left believe AOC could actually win a Democratic primary thanks to her massive donor network — though many acknowledge she would struggle badly in a general election.
Polls Already Show Newsom Leading the Democrat Field
An Emerson poll from late August showed Newsom at 25% support — ahead of Buttigieg at 16% and Harris at 11%. Democrat strategists expect that number to rise following his Proposition 50 victory.
They say Democrat voters want someone who looks “aggressive,” “visible,” and “combative,” and Newsom is leaning into that brand with everything he has.
Newsom Becomes the Left’s Top Anti-Trump Attack Dog
Within Democrat circles, Newsom is increasingly being described as the party’s “chief antagonist” to President Trump. Some strategists claim he’s the only Democrat taking bold, visible actions heading into next year’s House races.
One longtime California Democrat strategist said it plainly: “No other Democrat can make the claims Newsom can.”
Other Democrat governors may be testing the waters, but Newsom is the one actively trying to claim the mantle of “fighter-in-chief.”
As one strategist put it: “He gets the assignment.”
They openly admit modern Democrat politics is no longer about policy — it’s about projection, aggression, and online posturing. Newsom is checking every one of those boxes as he positions himself as Trump’s top political enemy.
