Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

DemocratSinceBirth

(101,482 posts)
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 09:38 AM Friday

The nomination is Gavin Newsom's to lose if he wants it

This isn't an endorsement, just an observation.

64 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The nomination is Gavin Newsom's to lose if he wants it (Original Post) DemocratSinceBirth Friday OP
As of today, that seems to be the case. tinrobot Friday #1
Agree....I"m in MIchigan and some people are still talking about democratsruletheday Friday #38
He may have positioned himself as an early frontrunner, but I think this pronouncement is quite premature tritsofme Friday #2
Who else then? dem4decades Friday #9
It's just too early, we don't know who will make the race. tritsofme Friday #10
I agree it's early but he has shot out of the gate, everyone else is spinning their wheels. dem4decades Friday #15
I don't think anyone can dispute his frontrunner status. tritsofme Friday #19
JB Pritzker is at least neck and neck with Newsom atm Arazi Friday #31
I second with JB. LuvLoogie Friday #58
Anything can happen between now and then. Haggard Celine Friday #3
The sad reality is that for the foreseeable future if we nominate another woman we'll lose again. Ocelot II Friday #7
I agree with you, but I see events leading up Haggard Celine Friday #11
It would help her cause to win a statewide election first. Certainly likely there will be an opportunity for her in the themaguffin Friday #26
I think she'd make a great Senator. Haggard Celine Friday #29
Too soon. But he's on a roll, for now. Ocelot II Friday #4
One election at a time please Raven123 Friday #5
Of course Bluetus Friday #18
Pete is great, but no Bobstandard Friday #20
I agree Johnny2X2X Friday #6
absolutely.. agingdem Friday #14
As crazy as it sounds I could see a Newsom-AOC ticket. DemocratSinceBirth Friday #64
It's only 2025. nt Gore1FL Friday #8
Well, he'd certainly get my vote. ananda Friday #12
Read a bio of Newsome's wife and she seems amazingly sharp, fwiw. nt allegorical oracle Friday #39
She's definitely a good one. ananda Friday #54
Can't he go be a Senator or something? leftstreet Friday #13
Sure he can Bobstandard Friday #21
Probably not a Senator in CA though ITAL Friday #46
It depends on his ability to connect in the primary Buckeyeblue Friday #16
A strong contender for sure. BannonsLiver Friday #17
I'd vote for him. Happy Hoosier Friday #22
I like him (if we can't have a woman president). He will staff his admin. with progressive women and men who know what CTyankee Friday #23
Hardly- way too early for a coronation Fiendish Thingy Friday #24
Top 10? Aren't you Canadian? BannonsLiver Friday #37
LOL, name 10. maxsolomon Friday #53
Charisma is a pretty weak criteria for selecting a president, Doncha think? Fiendish Thingy Friday #57
No, Charisma is the only thing that matters. maxsolomon Friday #59
The 1992 election was George HW Bush's to lose in in 1991 themaguffin Friday #25
I would like to see a Newsom/Buttigieg ticket pinkstarburst Friday #27
Whoever the nominee is needs to take lessons from Newsom's PR team. In fact, ALL Democratic Scrivener7 Friday #28
Not of he stays a centrist uponit7771 Friday #30
The nation is centrist. elleng Friday #42
Nope, issues of the left are more popular link uponit7771 Friday #44
Why muddle this. Kamala is a Democrat, therefore "left." Nixie Friday #60
How are you defining centrist? leftstreet Friday #56
Agreed! Gavin's new nickname is G-DADDY, lol. Nixie Friday #32
So the "inevitables" have started already? NNadir Friday #33
This message was self-deleted by its author In It to Win It Friday #34
For now, but 2.5 years is a long time in politics. He has to keep that momentum going for the next 2.5 years In It to Win It Friday #35
2005 the nomination was definitely going to Clinton in 2008 EdmondDantes_ Friday #36
A fine public servant, but don't forget elleng Friday #40
The Primary debates will be interesting. Baitball Blogger Friday #41
I truly hope democrats fix our debate setup before the primaries pinkstarburst Friday #61
....and we'll spend a solid year talking about the high cost of living in California. BluesRunTheGame Friday #43
Newsom & AOC ticket duckworth969 Friday #45
like the guy's brass but he is a tad abrasive...yet so social media savvy. nt msongs Friday #47
Abrasive is what we need Blaukraut Friday #62
Wish I could vote for him, today. (nt) Paladin Friday #48
A lot can happen in three years, but if it's Newsom, hamsterjill Friday #49
That election is more than two years away. Can we focus on our current battles? Reader Rabbit Friday #50
Yes, 2028 Ain't Tomorrow. Yes, Pete, Jon O., Shapiro, Pritzker.. ColoringFool Friday #51
In my mind - it's not too early to get the Dems to coalesce radicalleft Friday #52
I agree with your assessment senseandsensibility Friday #55
Maybe but tomorrow is never guaranteed on anything Tribetime Friday #63

tinrobot

(11,870 posts)
1. As of today, that seems to be the case.
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 09:41 AM
Friday

But one year is a lifetime in politics. The primaries are over two years out.

Hope he keeps up the momentum.

democratsruletheday

(1,747 posts)
38. Agree....I"m in MIchigan and some people are still talking about
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 11:57 AM
Friday

Whitmer but she lost clout with me by sucking up to tOrange Stain. GN is solid.

tritsofme

(19,727 posts)
2. He may have positioned himself as an early frontrunner, but I think this pronouncement is quite premature
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 09:43 AM
Friday

dem4decades

(13,390 posts)
15. I agree it's early but he has shot out of the gate, everyone else is spinning their wheels.
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:18 AM
Friday

tritsofme

(19,727 posts)
19. I don't think anyone can dispute his frontrunner status.
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:26 AM
Friday

But at least in my mind, that is a far cry from the race being his to lose.

Arazi

(8,547 posts)
31. JB Pritzker is at least neck and neck with Newsom atm
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 11:19 AM
Friday

I presume other fighters will also emerge over the next two years.

Sandwich guy could run for anything in DC right now and win.

So I’m in a wait and see mode

LuvLoogie

(8,404 posts)
58. I second with JB.
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 03:21 PM
Friday

My heart's with Pete as a top 5-er.

You have to consider Kamala as a possibility.

Melanie Stansbury

AoC

These are the ones with the heart and the talent to gain attention.

Haggard Celine

(17,546 posts)
3. Anything can happen between now and then.
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 09:46 AM
Friday

And in America, anything happens pretty frequently. I have a prediction. I think it's going to be AOC. I'm not campaigning for her, but I think she is really catching fire. This election should be a generational shift. We're overdue.

Ocelot II

(128,249 posts)
7. The sad reality is that for the foreseeable future if we nominate another woman we'll lose again.
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 09:51 AM
Friday

Two of the most qualified women to have ever held public office in any capacity were beaten by the man most unqualified to ever do anything. I like AOC but she isn't anywhere near as qualified to be president as either Hillary Clinton or Kamala Harris, but even if she were, this country is still too backwards to elect any woman, let alone a Latina.

Haggard Celine

(17,546 posts)
11. I agree with you, but I see events leading up
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:11 AM
Friday

to something drastic happening. Not sure what, but these just feel like sketchy times. Maybe it would be more concrete to say that I'm perceiving a loss of confidence, both in others and myself. I hope enough of us can stand together in the near future to put down any attempts to harm this country. I think we will win, and who knows who we'll choose to lead us out of all of this. So I'm not really advocating we choose her, I just think she's in a really good position if we have a sort of transformational politics take over.

themaguffin

(4,849 posts)
26. It would help her cause to win a statewide election first. Certainly likely there will be an opportunity for her in the
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:53 AM
Friday

...Senate

Haggard Celine

(17,546 posts)
29. I think she'd make a great Senator.
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 11:15 AM
Friday

She is very good with people, and that is golden in her profession.

Bluetus

(1,894 posts)
18. Of course
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:23 AM
Friday

Newsom is trying to establish a balance where his people troll Trump to his face, but he maintains an image of being serious. He's finding a lane.

But I think Pritzker is also establishing a lane. In his case, he is trying to establish a balance between tough guy who would punch Trump in the face, but also being serious and thoughtful as Governor. I think he is making that work.

Others may emerge. I suggest we are in a new era where voters will reject the "go along to get along" attitude we have seen so much of over the past 50 years. That is forcing candidates to find ways to sharpen their attacks and messages without appearing unhinged.

I think that will make it difficult for Buttigieg, because his whole brand is being the reasonable, smart guy. IMHO, if forced to choose between a smart guy and a fighter, the public wants the fighter.

We are about 2 years away from the 2028 campaign beginning in earnest, so the job today is to be heavily engaged in TODAY'S fight against Trump/MAGA fascism. Governors of big states have an advantage because they can take strong, meaningful actions that Representatives or Senators cannot do, and people like Buttigieg can really just go in the media as a commentator.

I do agree, sadly, that we cannot take the risk of fielding a woman at the top of the ticket. That is a terrible condemnation of America, considering that nearly every prominent democracy has had at least one female head of state. But the stakes are too high. Much could change, but at this point, the likely candidates for the top of the ticket looks like very short list to me. Somebody could come out of nowhere, but it isn't feeling that way to me.

If I were a betting person (and I'm really not), I would say the strongest tickets look like Newsom/Buttigieg or Pritzker/Buttigieg. I hope Pete's sexuality is not a roadblock. He does seem to be highly respected, and I note that it hasn't been much of an issue for Tim Cook heading the second most profitable company in the world. Having Buttigieg on the tick would allow the POTUS contender to be edgier, more strident because people could rationalize that Pete would be a voice of reason always in the room.

All of the above may turn out to be completely wrong. But I do hope that after Tuesday, every serious Democrat now clearly understands that path forward is to VIGOROUSLY oppose Trump and these cruel Republican policies and actions, and not to try to flatter, appease, or otherwise tolerate Trump.

Bobstandard

(2,101 posts)
20. Pete is great, but no
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:36 AM
Friday

Qualified, smart, funny, empathetic, yes. But being gay is just as bad in the current climate as being female. What a shitty thing to have to say, but too true. Somebody else, please.

Johnny2X2X

(23,593 posts)
6. I agree
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 09:48 AM
Friday

He's an absolute force right now and the big money is going to be behind him from the start.

agingdem

(8,699 posts)
14. absolutely..
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:14 AM
Friday

and he needs a running mate that is as big a son-of-bitch as he is (and I say that with YOU GO GAVIN admiration)..a take no shit/knock them to the ground/boot to the neck/fuck "nice" running mate...

ananda

(33,962 posts)
12. Well, he'd certainly get my vote.
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:12 AM
Friday

And like Biden and Kennedy, he's handsome
and charming.

Not that that affects me at all, of course.

ananda

(33,962 posts)
54. She's definitely a good one.
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 02:57 PM
Friday

It makes it hard to believe that he ever
fell for Kimberley Guilfoyle.

Bobstandard

(2,101 posts)
21. Sure he can
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:39 AM
Friday

He’s got all the qualities necessary. You clearly don’t like him, but it’s hard to deny that he’s got the goods.

ITAL

(1,228 posts)
46. Probably not a Senator in CA though
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 01:27 PM
Friday

At the moment at least, both Senators are relatively young by that chamber's standards. I doubt he'd challenge Schiff and he originally appointed Padilla, so it's likely they're close.

Winning the presidency would likely be easier than senate in CA right now.

Buckeyeblue

(6,108 posts)
16. It depends on his ability to connect in the primary
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:18 AM
Friday

He'll have to talk to voters in the south and midwest. He'll need to understand their priorities. California is very different from Michigan and South Carolina.

Happy Hoosier

(9,260 posts)
22. I'd vote for him.
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:39 AM
Friday

Is he perfect?

No.

Is he willing to fight?

YES. He knows the kind of fight we are in and and is willing to take it on. We need that desperately. Right now, the ideal policy take a back door to just kicking the MAGAts in the teeth.

CTyankee

(67,537 posts)
23. I like him (if we can't have a woman president). He will staff his admin. with progressive women and men who know what
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:43 AM
Friday

they're doing. AT LAST!

Fiendish Thingy

(21,479 posts)
24. Hardly- way too early for a coronation
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:48 AM
Friday

Once the primary campaign starts about a year from now, Newsom’s popularity polling will drop like a stone as other candidates declare and get media exposure.

Newsom has been the loudest voice among Dem elected officials in opposition to Trump, and he deserves credit for shepherding prop 50 to victory, but that doesn’t make him the best choice for the Dem 2028 nominee.

Newsom doesn’t even make my top 10- there are far better potential nominees out there.

Reminder: Newsom is the guy who had RWNJ’s (including Charlie Kirk)on his own podcast, giving them a platform to spew their hate and nonsense.

Fiendish Thingy

(21,479 posts)
57. Charisma is a pretty weak criteria for selecting a president, Doncha think?
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 03:20 PM
Friday

Just off the top of my head, in no particular order:

1. Whitmer
2. Hobbs
3. Buttiegieg
4. Murphy
5. Beshear
6. Pritzker
7. Warnock
8. Talarico
9. AOC
10. Walz

Those are current office holding Dems I think would make better presidents than Newsom. Add to that list former WA governor Jay Inslee.

Many of them probably aren’t even considering a run in 2028, and frankly, I think the DNC and the donor base will tip the scales towards nominating a straight, white male (likely not named Shapiro or Newsom). I think it’s entirely possible the nominee will be someone not on the list, who the general public barely knows.

Reminder- a year ago, Mamdani was polling at 1%

So, rather than pick apart my list, who are your 10 best Dems?

maxsolomon

(37,807 posts)
59. No, Charisma is the only thing that matters.
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 04:18 PM
Friday

It is the #1 quality that Americans respond to.

In addition to Newsom, Wes Moore has it.

themaguffin

(4,849 posts)
25. The 1992 election was George HW Bush's to lose in in 1991
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:52 AM
Friday

Gavin is certainly making the case and of course I noted a president above and they are subject to a lot more than a gov or other candidate, but I not this just because a lot can happen in two years.

Gavin putting himself out there, plus leading the prop issue (which was no given to succeed at the beginning) show the style and substance we need, but there's Pritzker and others. We'll see.

Scrivener7

(57,772 posts)
28. Whoever the nominee is needs to take lessons from Newsom's PR team. In fact, ALL Democratic
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 11:14 AM
Friday

press and PR people need to take lessons from Newsom's PR team.

uponit7771

(93,398 posts)
44. Nope, issues of the left are more popular link
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 01:13 PM
Friday

Kamala Harris’s economic policy slate more popular than Trump’s – poll | US elections 2024 | The Guardian

https://share.google/Kh0yot933wm4bCwu3

Nixie

(17,897 posts)
60. Why muddle this. Kamala is a Democrat, therefore "left."
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 05:07 PM
Friday

The efforts are clearly to say that “centrists” are not left. So it’s a war on contrived words with shape shifting meanings. There’s no reason to attack good Democrats over this nothing burger.

Nixie

(17,897 posts)
32. Agreed! Gavin's new nickname is G-DADDY, lol.
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 11:30 AM
Friday

His team is brilliant, as we’ve seen. And so is his wife. She is a huge asset for him and for Democrats.

Hopefully Gavin’s team has also learned to not engage those that still work overtime to split our party. There is another silly effort to pretend “centrists” are to be attacked, but as always there is little substance except transitive connections to fabricated “issues.” Middle-of-the-road average people are the bulk of our party. Not the other way around.

NNadir

(36,920 posts)
33. So the "inevitables" have started already?
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 11:45 AM
Friday

There's a lot between here and there.

If there is another election, some of us would like to consider a wealth of candidates.

Response to NNadir (Reply #33)

In It to Win It

(11,998 posts)
35. For now, but 2.5 years is a long time in politics. He has to keep that momentum going for the next 2.5 years
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 11:48 AM
Friday

EdmondDantes_

(1,142 posts)
36. 2005 the nomination was definitely going to Clinton in 2008
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 11:55 AM
Friday

Nobody anticipated Trump in 2013.

He's definitely not my preferred choice for 2028 of the likely potential primary candidates.

Baitball Blogger

(51,446 posts)
41. The Primary debates will be interesting.
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 12:37 PM
Friday

It's good if his present social team helps with the debate preparation, but the thing he needs to be careful with is that the other Democrats are not Trump. So the smarmy gotchas may come across wrong to the Democratic voters. He just needs to talk straight, informative and sound like he's been in battle longer than everyone else against the MAGAs, and beat them..

pinkstarburst

(1,832 posts)
61. I truly hope democrats fix our debate setup before the primaries
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 05:25 PM
Friday

and don't have 20 people in the debates, 10 per night, or if we do allow that many to debate, that we divide it up based on polling, maybe with the 12 polling the lowest going the first night, and the 8 polling the highest going the second night. Watching everyone scream over each other last time was ridiculous, and I hated seeing people polling at less than 1% taking cheap soundbite potshots at the frontrunners.

BluesRunTheGame

(1,893 posts)
43. ....and we'll spend a solid year talking about the high cost of living in California.
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 12:43 PM
Friday

Seems like the wrong direction to me but what do I know? I’ll vote for him if he’s our nominee.

hamsterjill

(16,792 posts)
49. A lot can happen in three years, but if it's Newsom,
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 02:12 PM
Friday

I'll be fine with that. He's at least had the courage to go up against the bully.

Reader Rabbit

(2,742 posts)
50. That election is more than two years away. Can we focus on our current battles?
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 02:13 PM
Friday

I feel like looking all they way ahead to 2028 is very premature.

ColoringFool

(73 posts)
51. Yes, 2028 Ain't Tomorrow. Yes, Pete, Jon O., Shapiro, Pritzker..
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 02:24 PM
Friday

BUT RIGHT NOW, IF I VOTED TODAY?

I'M HAVIN' GAVIN!

AMERICA: READY FOR A NEW(SOM) START!

radicalleft

(560 posts)
52. In my mind - it's not too early to get the Dems to coalesce
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 02:25 PM
Friday

around a candidate and a messaging strategy. Let this person be the face of the party and help us in the midterms. This is what the pukes do and it WORKS. There is no in-fighting, purity balls; they stay on-point and on-message. Show a backbone and GO FIGHT...relentlessly. And if we trip up along the way with a stupid comment, brush it off, don't crucify and then go looking for unicorns. We got one shot to get this right...

senseandsensibility

(24,051 posts)
55. I agree with your assessment
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 03:13 PM
Friday

including the fact that it is very early and things could change many times over before 2028. Still, he earns a lot of points by finding a way to lead the Dems out of the wilderness. He deserves to be rewarded for that. I also agree that we can not risk nominating a female again. It pains me to say that and I want to scream because it is so unfair. I think, however, that Newsom, if he is the nominee, should choose a woman as VP. I like Lisa Blunt Rochester, but there are many others. Mikey Sherrill would be good too.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The nomination is Gavin ...