Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has positioned himself to be the future of the Democratic Party while maintaining a supportive relationship with President Joe Biden.
Newsom has stirred presidential speculation in the past but has repeatedly said he has no interest in running for president, pushing his support for Biden's reelection campaign on multiple fronts this year.
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The California governor has taken on the role of boosting Biden’s economic and immigration policies and becomes a strong defender of the president's cognitive abilities as commander in chief as he vies for a second term.
A Biden adviser emphasized to the Messenger that Newsom is a key factor in the president's 2024 reelection campaign, giving him a political boost by sparring with his Republican opponents.
Newsom is reportedly “100%” behind Biden and is an “incredibly effective surrogate and he has shown himself to be more than willing to do whatever the campaign needs, whether it is media, whether it is fundraising, whether it is helping mobilization efforts,” an aide told the outlet.
Earlier this year, Newsom began touring Republican states to boost Democrats by launching the Campaign for Democracy. The controversial move struck a chord with lawmakers of Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and other conservative areas after he promised to take on "authoritarian leaders" who are targeting “our freedoms.”
More recently, Newsom attended a fundraising event in the red state of Idaho, pushing for Biden’s reelection and telling attendees he’s “proud of this president.”
“You want as many capable messengers as possible, singing from the same sheet together,” a Biden aide said, noting Newsom is persuasive.
While he’s made bold moves in attacking Republican leaders who oppose Biden, Newsom continues to promote the president’s base in states that already favor him, including California and Oregon.
“There is no better partner in the fight against climate change than President Biden,” Newsom said at a Southern California climate event in June.
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Newsom is part of a diverse group of 50 officials on Biden’s 2024 national advisory board, initially announced in May.
Last week, Newsom agreed to debate 2024 GOP presidential candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), another one of Biden’s biggest critics, after teasing the conservation on Fox News with Sean Hannity earlier this year.