California Gov. Gavin Newsom is rejecting speculation that he might challenge President Biden for the Democratic nomination in 2024 — reportedly telling POTUS himself that he’s “all in” on Biden’s re-election.
In an interview with Politico, Newsom sought to play down speculation that he might run for the Democratic nomination after what the office said was “significant” irritation from the White House over rumors that he was planning to run to unseat Biden.
“I told everybody in the White House, from the chief of staff to the first lady,” he said, saying his message was “I’m all in, count me in” in Biden’s re-election bid.
Talk of a potential 2024 Newsom bid has risen in recent months amid growing Democratic concern about Biden’s health, age and low approval ratings. Concerns about how Biden would fare in a 2024 race against former President Donald Trump or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have led some Democrats to begin looking for a potential replacement, and Newsom’s name has been floated as a possible option.
Biden says he’ll make 2024 re-election decision “early next year”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, accompanied by his wife, first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and their children, speaks after winning his second term in office, in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.
((AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli))
That concern appears to have faded somewhat after a stronger-than-expected Democratic showing in the November midterm elections, where Democratic fears of a Republican “red wave” did not materialize. The Democrats kept the Senate, and while they lost control of the House, the Republicans would only get a slim majority. As a result, Biden’s position looks stronger than it did in the summer.
Biden said during a press conference after the election that he intends to run for re-election and that he will make a final decision early next year.
With BIDEN 2024 in doubt, San Francisco voters deliver stark assessment of Gavin Newsom’s presidential future
“I think everybody wants me to run, but we’re going to have discussions about that,” Biden said. “Hopefully Jill and I will have some time to sneak in the week between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and my guess is that it will be early next year when we make that judgment.”
Newsom also fueled speculation that he might run by repeatedly launching public attacks on DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. But the governor, who comfortably won re-election in deep-blue California, said he stepped outside his motorcade near a Sacramento hotel on election night and called Biden to personally express his support for his re-election bid.
“I’m all in; put me on the coach,” Newsome said. “We’ve got your back.”
According to Politico, Newsom didn’t mean for the outlet’s reporter to hear the call, but he happened to be leaving the same hotel when he answered the call.
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The network reported that Trump’s comeback has become the party’s top priority and explains why Biden has been given so much leeway by his party during a difficult 2022. And now, one of his biggest potential primary threats is on the books with a full-throated endorsement of Biden 2024 — specifically mentioning his record of defeating the former president.
“He not only beat Trump once, I think he can beat him again,” Newsom said. “I hope he runs, I will support him enthusiastically.”
Fox News’ Patrick Hoff contributed to this report.
