California Governor Gavin Newsom is openly positioning himself as a political outsider and potential 2028 presidential contender, telling Vanity Fair in an interview published Wednesday that he is a “disrupter at heart.”
Newsom, a Democrat who has led the nation’s most populous state since 2019, pushed back on the notion that he belongs to the party’s establishment. “I’m not,” he told journalist 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.”
The interview comes as several Democratic candidates in the current midterm cycle have tried to cast themselves as insurgents, riding a wave of enthusiasm for democratic socialist figures. Newsom, however, dismissed the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) for relying on “slogans,” pointing to his own record on housing and tenant protections. “So much of what DSA is promoting, I’m like, ‘Been there, done that,’” he said, citing California’s annual rent increase caps and new eviction restrictions he signed into law.
The governor also touted his climate credentials, calling himself “the biggest climate champion that you know,” while insisting he is “not antibusiness.” That balancing act is central to his political identity as he navigates a state that is both a tech and energy powerhouse.
On the presidential front, Newsom addressed his recent comment to CNN that he would step aside in 2028 if former Vice President Kamala Harris runs, suggesting they would compete for the same donor and voter base. “You can’t hold off on making a decision, waiting, waiting, waiting,” he told Hagan, but added, “I’m not concerned about that, candidly.”
Newsom also weighed in on the rapid development of artificial intelligence, a major industry in his state. If elected president, he said he would spearhead “an international movement focusing on the issue of truth and safety and trust.” He expressed frustration with some tech executives, saying he has “lost relationships with these guys” and accusing them of being corrupted by power. “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.”
In a nod to the MAGA movement’s “Project 2025” blueprint, Newsom revealed he has drafted pages of a “Project 2029” policy framework for Democrats. He described it as “eight pages of commonsense good policy ideas,” covering issues like zoning reform, corporate taxes, junk fees, domestic trade strategies, preschool funding, childcare caps, family leave, paid sick leave, child tax credits, industrial decarbonization, antitrust enforcement, immigration, and whistleblower protections.
Newsom expressed confidence in his ability to compete in a crowded Democratic primary, citing his experience in California’s rough-and-tumble politics. “I don’t have a problem fighting. Nor do I have a problem getting roughed up and getting back up,” he said. “I’ve been road tested. It’s not small ball out here in California.”
His comments come as California’s political landscape remains contentious, with recent battles over immigration enforcement and election integrity. Newsom has also signed measures like the ban on shock gloves in the state’s ongoing clash with federal authorities, underscoring his willingness to take on Washington.
