Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom are already acting like 2028 rivals—starting with a petty “missed call” story that exposes how shaky the Democrats’ post-Biden bench really is.
A “Missed Call” That Signals a Bigger Power Struggle
Kamala Harris used her 2025 memoir, 107 Days, to spotlight an awkward moment from July 2024: she reached out to California Gov. Gavin Newsom after President Biden withdrew from the race, and Newsom texted that he was hiking and would call back—yet Harris wrote that he never did. Newsom ultimately endorsed her online, but the account turned a private slight into a public marker of ambition.
Harris’s decision to include that anecdote matters because it places a fellow California Democrat on notice without launching a direct attack. The underlying facts in available reporting are narrow—one phone call, one text, and an endorsement that came later—but the political meaning is broader. Democrats have been forced into a post-Biden reset, and Harris appears to be framing herself as the rightful heir while warning that allies can become competitors fast.
I&I/TIPP poll | 1/27-1/29
2028 presidential primaries
🟦Democratic
Kamala Harris 38%
Gavin Newsom 13%
Pete Buttigieg 5%
Josh Shapiro 4%
Mark Kelly 3%
Tim Walz 3%
JB Pritzker 3%
AOC 2%
Gretchen Whitmer 2%
Andy Beshear 2%
Jon Ossoff 2%
Wes Moore 1%
Someone else 4%
Not sure 17%…— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) February 16, 2026
Two San Francisco Careers, One National Lane
Harris and Newsom have traveled in parallel for more than two decades, including being sworn into major San Francisco offices on the same day—Newsom as mayor and Harris as district attorney. Both were connected early on to Willie Brown, a major figure in the city’s Democratic machine. For years, they largely avoided direct electoral conflict in California, a practical choice that let both climb without risking mutual destruction in a one-party state.
The détente started to look less stable during the 2024 cycle and its aftermath. Reporting describes tension around the Democratic National Convention, where Newsom attended but did not deliver a full speech, offering only a brief floor announcement tied to California’s delegates. Both camps attributed that absence to logistics, but politics is often about optics. When the party is trying to project unity, even “scheduling” explanations can read like quiet distancing.
How Harris and Newsom Are Positioning After Biden
Harris has used her book tour to re-litigate the 2024 campaign and to distance herself from parts of the Biden legacy, while also taking subtle swipes at other potential 2028 contenders. That approach fits a politician trying to stay relevant after a national loss: keep the spotlight, control the narrative, and reintroduce yourself to donors and primary voters. The available sources describe it as strategic repositioning rather than a formal campaign.
Newsom, meanwhile, has been building a national profile through sustained conflict with President Trump, including continuing legal challenges and public messaging that keeps him in the fight Democrats most want to advertise. Sources also describe his involvement in political efforts tied to redistricting and the 2026 midterms, which can expand influence beyond California. In October 2025, he indicated he would decide whether to run for president in 2028—an answer that keeps every option open.
Staff, Donors, and the Real Fuel of a 2028 Primary
Behind every presidential bid sits a machine of staff, consultants, and fundraising networks, and reporting indicates that many former Harris staffers from her 2020 campaign have moved closer to Newsom’s circle. That kind of staffing realignment can become destiny in politics because relationships drive endorsements, debate prep, and donor access. The research does not provide a full accounting of who moved and when, but it does suggest a shifting center of gravity.
Both camps still trade public compliments, and Newsom’s spokesperson has emphasized his work for Harris in 2024, including surrogate duties, fundraising, and an endorsement that came hours after Biden’s withdrawal. Harris has called Newsom talented and a leading party figure. Still, the evidence points to a party preparing for a knife fight while pretending it’s a family meeting. For conservatives, the takeaway is practical: Democrats’ next internal battle will shape how aggressively they push the same big-government, culture-war priorities into 2028.
Sources:
https://www.axios.com/2025/10/12/kamala-harris-gavin-newsom-rivalry
https://evrimagaci.org/gpt/kamala-harris-and-gavin-newsom-navigate-tense-rivalry-519614
https://calmatters.org/commentary/2025/10/newsom-and-harris-president-2028/
https://calmatters.org/commentary/2025/09/kamala-harris-gavin-newsom-frenemies/