Analysis by Summer Lane | Photo: Alamy
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) will be heading to Simi Valley on Wednesday at the behest of Joe Biden’s presidential reelection campaign, where he will spearhead Democrat debate responses at the second Republican presidential debate of the election cycle, multiple outlets have reported.
Newsom, who has gained national notoriety for his stringent Covid-related protocols and mandates in the Golden State throughout the pandemic, has been rumored to be waiting in the wings for a 2024 presidential bid.
In fact, Newsom, whose name has become synonymous with far-left California policies, has been taking moderate stances on a few issues of late, seemingly signaling a political shift toward the center as he potentially eyes the Oval Office.
According to a report from The Hill, Newson will be joined on Wednesday in Simi Valley by Biden-Harris campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez and Democrat National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison.
Earlier this year, Newsom made headlines when he sat down for an interview with Fox News and subsequently praised President Donald Trump, lauding his “incredible” relationship with California throughout the Covid pandemic.
Last week, Newsom made another moderate move when he vetoed AB 957, which would have essentially allowed judges to remove children from the custody of parents who failed to “affirm” their chosen gender identity.
Gov. Newsom was not expected to veto this bill, so this legislative move came as a surprise to Democrats in California and signaled to Republicans that the governor was likely choosing to take a centrist approach to the radical bill in preparation for something bigger.
Trump ally Roger Stone postulated on X that while there was “virtually ZERO chance Ron DeSantis will be the 2024 Republican Presidential nominee,” he added that there was “some chance” that Newsom could be the 2024 Democrat nominee.
During an interview with Tucker Carlson in August, President Donald Trump remarked of Biden, “I don’t think he’s going to make it to the gate,” meaning he did not believe that Biden would be physically capable of running for reelection in 2024.
“I think he’s worse mentally than he is physically – and physically he’s not exactly a triathlete,” Trump said.
Biden’s observable physical and cognitive decline has only fueled swirling speculation that Democrats will run another candidate in Biden’s place in the 2024 presidential election.
Newsom’s presence at the GOP debate this week only seems to confirm rumors that he is, at the very least, considering jumping into the presidential race.
