Newsom brushes off DOJ probe, as Democrats worry it could hurt him in 2028

The Department of Justice (DOJ) investigations involving California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, could pose a challenge for him should the governor decide to mount a presidential bid in 2028. 

While the probes are in their early stages, some Democrats are already wondering whether they could tarnish Newsom’s image even before he would enter the race, giving Republicans an opening to define him. 

The concern for Newsom’s supporters is not the substance of any single investigation but whether the allegations and headlines take on a life of their own. 

Strategists point to controversies in recent presidential cycles that overtook a candidate’s message, including in 2016 when Hillary Clinton’s campaign was besieged with news stories about official government emails sent over a personal server.

During that campaign, Clinton’s emails became part of a constant narrative used by President Trump and his allies to batter the Democrat. 

During former President Biden’s most recent campaign against Trump, Republicans sought to make hay of his son, Hunter Biden, and his business dealings, using that as an example of the then-president’s judgment and honesty. 

In Newsom’s case, even if the probes remain fruitless, his opponents will underscore the fact that he is weighed down by investigations, which could inevitably be a drag on the campaign. 

“There’s not one candidate who wants to enter what will inevitably be a brutal primary campaign cycle with that chain around their necks,” one Democratic strategist said. 

While Trump’s DOJ has been the subject of scrutiny, with Democrats accusing Trump of going after his political opponents, it’s still........

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