California's Gov. Gavin Newsom backs Harris after standing with Biden to the end

California Gov. Gavin Newsom endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party after publicly supporting President Joe Biden to the end.

After Biden announced Sunday he would no longer be running for re-election but would serve the remainder of his term, former president Barack Obama implicitly endorsed an open convention, while Biden and former president Bill Clinton endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, leading to swirling rumors Newsom may challenge Harris at the Democratic National Convention.

On July 10, Newsom told reporters he would not challenge Harris for the nomination if Biden steps down.

But hours after Biden’s July 21 announcement, KCRA reported Newsom canceled his appearance set for the next day at a Ninth Circuit judicial conference, launching speculation Newsom could be readying for a shadow campaign of his own.

While California and national political leaders have continued to announce their endorsements for Harris — including California Senator Alex Padilla, D-CA, Representative Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, and Pennsylvania’s Democratic Governor, Josh Shapiro — Newsom’s office has remained dark until releasing his endorsement of Harris.

“Tough. Fearless. Tenacious. With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America’s Vice President, Kamala Harris,” said Newsom on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Newsom has been touring the nation and funding advertisements across the country, running pro-choice advertisements in the South and attempting to pass a national constitutional amendment restricting gun rights. These actions, and many other leading up to Biden’s were considered by many to be setting the stage for a potential 2024 candidacy.

One of his most recent press releases, from July 18, reads like a potential national campaign advertisement, is called “10 ways California leads the nation” and focuses on Newsom’s accomplishments, celebrating the “golden economy,” “reproductive freedom,” “gun safety,” “feeding kids,” and “climate action.”

“California is the tentpole of the American economy. Home to the world’s greatest higher-education system,” said Newsom in a statement. “A place where people can love who they want, access the reproductive freedom they deserve, and pursue a dream of a safe and prosperous life – their California dream.”

The release also includes “health care access … regardless of immigration status,” “being a sanctuary for people seeking gender-affirming care, reproductive health care, and seeking to enshrine LGBTQ+ equality in the state’s constitution,” and the state’s “high-speed rail system.” California’s high speed rail was approved by voters in 2008 to connect Los Angeles to San Francisco for $33 billion, but now will cost nearly $130 billion, if it is ever completed.

While the Republican National Convention reflected unity around former President Donald Trump, who was shot at and hit by a would-be-assassin's bullet right before the convention, the possibility of a highly contested Democratic National Convention could make or break the Democratic Party’s hopes for 2024.

“I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges,” said Obama in a statement celebrating Biden and looking towards the convention. “I believe that Joe Biden’s vision of a generous, prosperous, and united America that provides opportunity for everyone will be on full display at the Democratic Convention in August.”

With the Biden-Harris political committee and its funds officially handed to Harris, the current Vice President and former California senator has a significant advantage over other would-be contenders in the month leading up to the Democratic National Convention on August 21.

Early July polling from Emerson on former president Donald Trump against potential Democrats had every Democrat well behind. Biden was behind three points, while Harris was behind six points, and Newsom behind eight points.

But veteran pollster Ben Turchin, who has worked for both Newsom and Harris, issued a memo first reported by Semafor that says Newsom has, “better net favorability ratings and lower negatives than Biden and Harris.” In a closely-contested national election where many voters are unhappy with their options, being less-hated could very well be the golden ticket to the White House, or at least the Democratic presidential nomination.