SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Governor Gavin Newsom of California firmly stated that he has no intention of running for president in 2024, emphasizing that it’s highly unlikely. However, he made it clear that he considers Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is running, to be “weak,” “undisciplined,” and predicts that he will be defeated by Donald Trump.
On the other hand, DeSantis enjoys taunting Newsom for what he perceives as an obsession with Florida, while asserting that Newsom’s “leftist government” is causing California’s downfall.
This rivalry between two term-limited governors epitomizes the intense political landscape in the United States. Representing opposite ends of the ideological spectrum and governing two of the nation’s largest and most influential states, Newsom and DeSantis are shaping the narrative from their respective corners as the presidential primary season kicks off.
In a recent interview, Newsom expressed his disdain for DeSantis and his unwavering support for President Joe Biden. This came as DeSantis embarked on a two-day fundraising tour, making stops in California. DeSantis prefers to target California as he tries to avoid direct confrontation with his main Republican presidential competitor, Trump, who is currently engaged in escalating legal battles.
According to Newsom, DeSantis’ relentless attacks against him are causing him to lose focus. Newsom further asserts that DeSantis is a weak candidate, lacks discipline, and will ultimately be defeated by Donald Trump, likely resulting in him plummeting to third or fourth place in national polls.
DeSantis’ representatives declined to arrange an interview with the governor. Nevertheless, beneath the verbal sparring, political strategists from both parties suggest that there might be a mutually beneficial dynamic at play. By engaging in public disputes over policies and personal matters through press statements and social media exchanges, the governors are appealing to their respective political bases, raising funds, and increasing their national prominence.
Both Newsom and DeSantis recently released fundraising appeals explicitly targeting each other by name. However, it’s worth noting that not all aspects of this rivalry are beneficial or advantageous.
Newsom has been facing persistent questions about his potential presidential aspirations, particularly after DeSantis challenged him to stop hesitating and launch a primary challenge against President Biden. Despite Newsom’s term as California governor ending in 2026, his national prominence has increased significantly. He successfully defended himself against a recall effort in 2021 and won re-election with ease last year. By the end of the midterm campaign, he had approximately $16 million in his campaign funds. In March, Newsom directed $10 million towards a newly formed political action committee called the Campaign for Democracy.
However, Newsom’s team has been cautious in order to avoid the perception of running a shadow presidential campaign while President Biden intensifies his political activities. As an example, Newsom’s PAC is currently focusing on challenging Republican leaders in deeply conservative states that are not significant in the context of the 2024 presidential race. In April, Newsom embarked on his first trip associated with the PAC, campaigning in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
Newsom’s allies indicate that he is expected to avoid battleground states or key presidential primary states in the foreseeable future. Simultaneously, Newsom and his team maintain regular communication with President Biden and his top aides, including Jen O’Malley Dillon, who managed Biden’s 2020 campaign and currently serves as the deputy White House chief of staff. A Biden campaign official confirmed close coordination between the president’s team and Newsom.
Nathan Ballard, a long-time adviser and friend of Newsom, stated that Newsom has no intention of running against Joe Biden and never would. However, as one of the prominent national Democrats, it is part of his role to engage in significant national battles, as exemplified by his ongoing feud with DeSantis. Ballard acknowledges that while Newsom is not seeking the presidency against Biden, he remains an influential figure on the national stage.
Nathan Ballard suggests that while the current focus is on the 2024 election, there is also the potential for a 2028 election. Roy Behr, a veteran Democratic consultant, sees the rivalry between Newsom and DeSantis as an early glimpse into the 2028 presidential contest. He believes it’s not inconceivable that in four years, both governors could be their party’s respective nominees. Behr believes that Newsom, at 55 years old, is leveraging his engagement with DeSantis, who is 44, to enhance his national reputation and create future opportunities for himself.
Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta, based in Sacramento, expects the ongoing rivalry between Newsom and DeSantis to persist since it benefits both politicians with their core supporters. Acosta describes them as “frenemies,” acknowledging that they both gain points and support from their respective bases through this rivalry. While some Democrats express reservations about President Biden seeking a second term, Newsom firmly states that he would not challenge the incumbent president under any circumstances, demonstrating his loyalty to his own party.
“In the weekend interview, Newsom rejected the notion, saying, ‘Certainly not on God’s green earth,’ and expressed his support for Biden by stating that he would be accompanying him on Monday and organizing a fundraiser on Tuesday. He emphasized that he has consistently advocated for Biden’s candidacy, including in recent appearances on Fox News.
DeSantis, on the other hand, did not plan to engage in any public appearances during his fundraising tour in California. His itinerary included stops in Sacramento and the Bay Area on Monday, followed by events in San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles on Tuesday.
During a gathering in Nevada, DeSantis observed a significant influx of ‘disgruntled Californians’ relocating to Florida. He questioned their decision to leave places like San Diego for destinations such as Jacksonville, Florida, and attributed it to the destructive impact of leftist governance in California. He further asserted that similar destructive tendencies can be observed in cities across the nation and in other states.”
During the weekend event hosted by former Nevada attorney general Adam Laxalt, who leads the pro-DeSantis super PAC, he emphasized the need for a national debate on the policy differences between Florida and California.
Laxalt stated in an interview, “California has served as a model for various leftist policies. When comparing Florida’s policies and the outcomes led by Governor DeSantis to those in California, I would choose the contrast any day of the week. We can already witness the consequences of leftist policies.”
Both DeSantis and Newsom assumed office in 2019 and were reelected for their second and final terms in 2022. They benefited from substantial budget surpluses and the support of state legislatures controlled by their respective parties, which greatly facilitated the advancement of their agendas.
In California, Newsom expanded the state’s Medicaid program to encompass all eligible adults, regardless of their immigration status. He signed a series of bills to streamline access to abortion, allocating $20 million in state funds to assist individuals from other states in traveling to California for the procedure. When the U.S. Supreme Court declined to invalidate a Texas abortion law enforced through private lawsuits, Newsom enacted a similar law in California, but focused on firearms instead.
In a recent proposal, Newsom put forth the idea of amending the U.S. Constitution to implement what he deemed a “reasonable” waiting period for gun purchases, a ban on “assault rifles,” universal background checks, and raising the minimum age for firearm purchases to 21.
Lanhee Chen, a California Republican who attended one of DeSantis’ fundraisers, remarked, “I think Gavin Newsom is a very useful foil for Ron DeSantis, quite frankly. The more ‘crazy’ things that Newsom does, at least in the eyes of Republican voters, the more Ron DeSantis benefits as someone seen as a counterweight to that.”
In Florida, DeSantis has focused on cultural conservative issues as part of what he refers to as his “war on woke.”
Recently, his administration transported groups of migrants from Texas to Sacramento to draw attention to the influx of Latin American immigrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. DeSantis previously employed a similar tactic, sending dozens of immigrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard last fall, which he often highlights during his campaign speeches.
DeSantis also signed and subsequently expanded the Parental Rights in Education bill, which critics refer to as the “Don’t Say Gay” law. This legislation prohibits the discussion or instruction of LGBTQ+ topics in Florida public schools across all grade levels. Furthermore, he took control of Disney World’s governing body after the company openly opposed the law.
In addition to his previous actions, this year Governor DeSantis signed a law prohibiting abortions at six weeks, a stage when many women are not yet aware of their pregnancy. He also intervened in the governance of a liberal arts college that he believed was promoting leftist ideologies among its students.
While DeSantis does not face the same legal challenges as former President Trump, Newsom cautioned against assuming that defeating Trump in the 2024 general election would be easier for Democrats.
Newsom stated, “I see what appears to be strength, but I perceive it as underlying weakness in DeSantis. I believe he would be a more formidable candidate. However, I will defer that judgment to individuals with more objective viewpoints.”