Things are going to get pretty heated in the state of California, and we’re not talking about global warming. California Governor Gavin Newsom is planning a run for the presidency in 2024 if President Joe Biden steps aside before the elections. This will cause him to go toe to toe with fellow resident Vice President Kamala Harris.
Sources close to the governor said that Newsom is “undeniably, unequivocally” planning his run for president.
A Los Angeles-based philanthropist connected to the Democratic Party and fundraising for its candidates confirmed Newsom’s strong intentions to run saying, “After this midterm election is over, he absolutely is going to announce that he is running for the presidency once Biden announces that he is not running. No ifs, ands or buts. He will run if Biden does not.”
President Biden spoke about his future with Scott Pelley on “60 Minutes” this past Sunday night. Pelley asked, “Some people think you are unfit for the job, and when you hear that, I wonder what you think.”
He strongly defended his fitness for office, “Watch me,” the president replied. “Honest to God that’s all I think. If you think I don’t have the energy level or the mental acuity, then you know, that’s one thing. It’s another thing, you know, just watch and, you know, keep my schedule. Do what I’m doing.”
He said that it was too early to decide whether he will be running for a second term.
“Look, my intention, as I said to begin with, is that I would run again,” Biden added. “But it’s just an intention. But is it a firm decision that I run again? That remains to be seen.”
This is the first time Biden has really cast any kind of shadow on the potential of running for reelection in 2024. In his previous comments, he has pointed to every intention of vying for a two-term presidency.
Biden Not Confirming a 2024 Run, Will Newsom or Harris Run?
If Biden doesn’t run, there are reports and speculation that Vice President Kamala Harris would enter the presidential race. But she has insisted repeatedly that she intends to run as Biden’s No. 2 for a second term in 2024.
Gov. Newsom is likely going to win a second term in the governor’s race in California in November. Before this year, he said that he has no interest in becoming president in 2024. But in the last few weeks, he has been making huge political statements.
Newsom has put up billboards in Texas, Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Oklahoma criticizing their pro-life laws. The pro-choice governor has also launched a website where people out of state can find information about how to have an abortion in California.
He has also paid to run advertisements in both Florida and Ohio where he lashed out at the GOP’s platform on abortion and free speech.
It was reported that Newsom is working closely now with D.C. lobbyist Heather Podesta. She has introduced Newsom to a bunch of very wealthy donors who could contribute to his campaign.
Some have watched him move some of his politics a little closer to the center from the far left. This includes his decision to close a bill that would allow drug addicts to use safe needles inside designated locations.
No one thinks that he will make an announcement before the midterms, but a California fundraiser with ties to the Newsom family said he probably will soon after. Another person said that he would have no trouble taking on Harris despite both of them coming from California.
Things are going to heat up in California.
