California Governor Gavin Newsom is reportedly seeking guidance from a former president as discussions escalate regarding his potential candidacy for the White House in 2028.
During an interview with Vanity Fair, Newsom addressed the prospect of a presidential campaign, stating, "I don’t have a problem fighting. Nor do I have a problem getting roughed up and getting back up. I’ve been road tested. It’s not small ball out here in California."
Newsom, who is nearing the conclusion of his second and final term as California's chief executive, identified former President Bill Clinton as his political exemplar, telling Vanity Fair that Clinton is a "master of his craft."
"I watch videos of Clinton. I seek his counsel, his advice, and even in his absence, do that. I’ve been a student of his from day one," he shared with the publication.
The governor indicated that their relationship extends beyond distant admiration, disclosing that he and Clinton frequently engage in late-night discussions covering policy matters, political strategy, and approaches to California’s complex issues.
"He calls me late at night, wanting to talk about it, and he goes, ‘I’ve been thinking just nonstop about this. I just think you represent what they fear,’" Newsom recounted.
Mentorship from a Former President
Newsom lauded Clinton as an exceptional problem solver, even as the former president has faced scrutiny over his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and a sex scandal involving former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Clinton has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities or any personal wrongdoing.
"[There is] no greater problem solver in that respect than Bill Clinton, in my mind. Master of his craft. Next-level," Newsom affirmed.
The California governor's public embrace of Clinton also occurs as the Democratic Party undergoes significant shifts, with prominent democratic socialist figures gaining influence alongside the more centrist political tradition that Clinton once embodied.
A "Disrupter" in the Democratic Landscape
Newsom clarified that he does not align himself with the Democratic "establishment," instead portraying himself as a political "disrupter."
"I’m notoriously a disrupter at heart," he told Vanity Fair. "I’ve never been for the status quo. Quite the contrary. I have a record that consistently challenges the status quo, and I tend to take risks to a degree that few elected officials do."
Newsom, who has stated he would not enter the 2028 presidential race if former Vice President Kamala Harris were to run, also discussed a 36-page document he is compiling. This book, filled with policy proposals, forms what he refers to as "Project 2029," a governing framework whose name draws a parallel to the conservative "Project 2025."
Crafting "Project 2029"
Regarding his extensive collection of policy ideas, Newsom commented, "No one touches these. These are my own little version. This is just policy, not narrative, the kinds of things we need to do: zoning reform, corporate tax, junk-fee stuff, new domestic strategies and tariffs, preschool things, a cap on childcare, family leave, paid sick leave, child tax credits, industrial decarbonization, anti-monopoly stuff, immigration, whistleblower protections."
Political analyst Friednash suggested that in an era where the Democratic Party brand faces considerable unpopularity among Americans, Newsom would be prudent to adopt strategies from Bill Clinton’s approach, recognizing the necessity for Democrats to broaden their appeal beyond the progressive left. Friednash added, "Newsom’s challenge will be authentically casting himself as a disrupter when he has spent decades as part of the California political establishment."
Democratic strategist Kaivan Shroff echoed Friednash’s observations, contending that Clinton understood the paramount importance of prioritizing the nation’s needs over those of specific activist groups or party leaders, an insight Shroff believes Newsom is "clearly trying to learn."
"Newsom seems to understand that distinction. The harder question is whether he can actually pull it off."
