California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is positioning himself as a political outsider, telling Vanity Fair in a series of interviews published Wednesday that he is a “disrupter at heart” as he openly contemplates a 2028 presidential campaign. The governor rejected the notion that he represents the Democratic Party’s establishment, despite his long tenure in California politics.
“I’m not,” Newsom told Vanity Fair’s Joe Hagan. “I mean, I’ve been at this awhile. To the extent I’m established, in that context — but I’m notoriously a disrupter at heart. I’ve never been for the status quo, and I tend to take risks to a degree that few elected officials do.”
His comments come as Democratic voters show growing enthusiasm for candidates affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) this midterm cycle. Newsom pushed back on the DSA’s influence, arguing that its platform relies on “slogans” rather than results. “So much of what DSA is promoting, I’m like, ‘Been there, done that,’” he said, pointing to California legislation he signed that caps annual rent increases and imposes new eviction restrictions.
Newsom also sought to burnish his progressive credentials while signaling openness to business. He described himself as “the biggest climate champion that you know,” but added, “I’m not antibusiness.” The balancing act reflects the broader tension within the Democratic Party as it navigates its progressive and moderate wings.
On the 2028 presidential race, Newsom was pressed about his recent CNN remark that he would not run if former Vice President Kamala Harris entered the contest, since they would compete for the same supporters. “You can’t hold off on making a decision, waiting, waiting, waiting,” he told Hagan. “But I don’t think that will — I’m not concerned about that, candidly.”
The governor also weighed in on the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, a major industry in his state. He said that if elected president, he would lead “an international movement focusing on the issue of truth and safety and trust.” Newsom expressed dismay that some tech leaders have been transformed by power, saying he has “lost relationships with these guys” without naming them. “What the hell happened to these people? I have animus now that I never had,” he said. “I think power corrupts — how they’ve been able to corrupt and manipulate the political system. I don’t care if they voted for [President] Trump. They were always libertarian. But it’s the nature of just too much abundance, too much wealth, too much isolation, too much indulgence, and too much power. Because the money buys you power.”
Newsom also touted draft pages of a “Project 2029” policy framework for Democrats, an apparent counter to the conservative “Project 2025” blueprint for a second Trump administration. He said the draft includes about “eight pages of commonsense good policy ideas,” listing zoning reform, corporate tax changes, junk-fee restrictions, new domestic strategies and tariffs, preschool programs, a cap on childcare, family leave, paid sick leave, child tax credits, industrial decarbonization, anti-monopoly measures, immigration reform, and whistleblower protections.
Expressing confidence in his ability to compete in a potentially crowded Democratic primary, Newsom said, “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.”
As Newsom sharpens his national profile, his record on issues like immigration enforcement has drawn scrutiny, including his recent signing of a ban on shock gloves as California escalates its immigration fight. He has also faced questions about the state’s data center debate, which some critics say is driven by political fearmongering. Meanwhile, California continues to advance environmental regulations, such as a new law to track PFAS in pesticides, underscoring the governor’s focus on policy ahead of any national bid.
