Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) laughed off the prospect of a 2028 Democratic primary face-off between himself and former Vice President Kamala Harris, saying that if that were to come to fruition it would be because “it’s fate.”
The California governor — who will soon be term-limited out and tops the list of potential Democratic presidential contenders — discussed the possibility with CNN anchor and “State of the Union” host Dana Bash, who asked how he might handle standing across the debate stage from the former vice president.
WATCH:
Gavin Newsom on possibly facing Kamala Harris in the 2028 presidential primary: “I’ve never gotten in the way of her ambition” pic.twitter.com/PDm8CmkR96
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) February 22, 2026
“Kamala Harris. You write about the fact that you’ve been friends with her for a very long time, you came up together,” Bash began, referencing Newsom’s recent memoir. “You talk about your parallel careers: she was prosecutor, California D.A., and Senator; you were San Francisco Mayor, Lieutenant Governor, and Governor.”
“What happens if and when those parallel careers intersect and collide?” she asked, and Newsom began to laugh long before she was able to finish the question.
“Well, I’m San Francisco and she’s L.A., so we’re a little bit — there’s a little distance between the two of us,” Newsom protested, but Bash pointed out the fact that she was talking about national politics.
“2028. The whole country,” she said.
“That’s — you know, fate will determine that,” Newsom shrugged. “And I’ve never gotten in the way of her ambition, ever. I haven’t. And I don’t imagine I would in the future. But I don’t —”
“But if you run against each other for president —” Bash tried again.
“That’s fate,” Newsom said again, dismissing the question entirely. “You only can control what you can control. I think this entire book is that fundamental lesson. And this notion of controlling what you control, and taking responsibility for what you control, is a big part of what I try to communicate in this book. That’s the third thing, it’s like how this book will be received. It’s the third thing, I can’t control it. I can’t control whatever decisions she makes.”