Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is hitting the campaign trail to meet with Democrats in Republican-heavy states to help motivate voter turnout among his party in the 2024 elections.
The only catch? Newsom isn’t looking to churn out votes for himself. Rather, he’s aiming to boost President Joe Biden as he seeks reelection to the White House.
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Newsom set out on a multistate trip during the holiday weekend, telling Democratic voters in Idaho they must work to provide a “powerful case for why we should be passionate, enthusiastic about Biden’s reelection.” The pitch may be a long-shot bid in the Gem State because Idaho has voted for the Republican nominee in every presidential election since 1964.
But the California governor pointed to several cultural discussions taking root in Idaho, such as laws to restrict abortion access and LGBT rights, arguing Biden is the best choice to prevent such things from happening.
“I’m really proud of this president, and I hope you are as well,” Newsom said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
But Newsom’s trip may not just be energizing Biden’s base — it could also be boosting his own national standing as the California governor considers a run for higher office in the future.
Newsom has repeatedly denied any plans to run for president, noting his campaign travel is solely to promote Biden’s reelection and other Democrats on the 2024 ballot. But his presence has attracted attention from Democratic voters during his state visits, helping to build a name recognition that could benefit him later on.
“He’s putting in time and effort that no one else outside the White House appears to be,” said Rob Stutzman, a Republican consultant in California. “He’s acting like the candidate-in-waiting. Someday it may pay off for him.”
The trip comes as Newsom’s national recognition has soared in recent months, with polls showing he is a strong contender for the Democratic presidential nomination if he were to enter. A recent YouGov-Yahoo News survey showed Newsom narrowly defeating former President Donald Trump in a hypothetical matchup, 40% to 39%.
The poll also showed Newsom defeating Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) 39% to 36% if the two went head-to-head in the 2024 election.
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However, a majority of voters in the Golden State have expressed opposition to a presidential bid for Newsom. About 70% of California voters, including a majority of Democrats, said Newsom should not run for president compared to only 22% who said he should, according to a Quinnipiac University poll conducted in March. Among likely Democratic voters, more than half, 54%, said he shouldn’t run.
For months, Newsom has attracted rumors that he’s running a shadow presidential campaign on the off chance that Biden drops his reelection bid. The California governor has repeatedly denied he would challenge Biden in a Democratic primary, but Newsom has stopped short of saying whether he’d run if the president dropped out.