Newsom amasses fundraising machine that could power 2028 bid

If California Gov. Gavin Newsom enters the 2028 presidential race, as many Democrats expect, he’ll walk in with an asset other White House hopefuls will inarguably envy: A small-dollar fundraising and organizing machine powered by a massive and ever-growing contact list of potential supporters across the country.

Even before last year’s successful Proposition 50 redistricting effort in his state, Newsom had amassed more than 17 million email addresses, and his advisers say it’s only multiplied exponentially since then as Democrats feverishly donated in large numbers to redraw California’s electoral maps.

That list — advisers declined to provide its current size — has already helped Newsom raise more than $6.8 million during the midterm election cycle, Newsom’s advisers said. There have been more than 305,000 contributions this cycle, with $22.47 being the average donation, the advisers tell The Hill. 

Newsom’s team said the bulk of the fundraising appeals have been funneled solely toward other Democratic candidates and causes. The governor, they say, remains hyper-focused on helping Democrats win in the midterms. Of the $6.8 million total, $1.85 million has been raised for 15 state Democratic parties, they said. And $2.2 million has been raised for Southern Democrats to help build infrastructure in the Deep South, which has been a sore spot recently for the party. 

But should the governor launch a White House bid, the list would give him not only an automatic financial shot in the arm but a significant edge on outreach and organizing of potential supporters.

“Oh, of course, that’s a key advantage he’ll have in a presidential race,” said Garry South, a longtime Newsom ally who advised him in his first gubernatorial race. “First, any successful candidate in California starts out with a bigger donor base than anyone from another state because we’re the biggest state. But his national fundraising for Prop 50 provides him with a national fundraising base on top of his proven California........

© The Hill