Gavin Newsom faces challenge of moving from Trump troller to national winner

As Gavin Newsom prepares to leave his job as governor of California after eight years, the question he faces isn’t whether he wants to run for president, but how competitive he can be in what is expected to be a crowded field. 

Newsom, who began the 2028 conversation as one of the party’s most prominent prospective contenders and a frequent antagonist of President Trump, could face competition from Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and others. Both Ossoff and Ocasio-Cortez have seen their popularity surge in recent months.

At the same time, the governor will have to contend with the political baggage tied to his time in the governor’s mansion and also how he maintains a front-and-center profile once he leaves office. He also has to figure out where he fits into an ever-changing Democratic Party.  

While Democrats broadly acknowledge he’s still among the top tier contenders as 2028 draws closer, they wonder how he’ll actually fare when he transitions from governor to candidate. 

“Newsom’s challenge was always going to be, ‘Can he pivot from successful Trump foil and resistance troller to someone people see winning a general election across the country?” Democratic strategist Eddie Vale said. “And that definitely becomes harder the more other candidates that have competed and won in purple and red states are making a credible case for themselves.”

Ossoff is one potential candidate who has ascended in recent chatter among Democrats. The senator has impressed Democrats by also going after Trump but using a range of policies — including on the economy — to draw a contrast with Republicans, boosting his presidential prospects.

There’s also Ocasio-Cortez, who has risen in polls and on the unofficial scorecards of political observers. Former........

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