California Governor Gavin Newsom has said he will not seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 if former Vice President Kamala Harris decides to run, a statement that rules out a potential primary showdown between two of the party's most prominent California figures.

In an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper recorded while the two were fly-fishing in Montana, Newsom said: "I don't know if she runs, but we'll see. I wouldn't run if she ran." He added: "Why would I? I wouldn't do that to her. I wouldn't do it to me. I won't waste everyone's time. Who needs that?"

Newsom, who is barred by term limits from seeking another term as governor in 2026, has been widely viewed as a top-tier Democratic contender for 2028. Harris, who ran for president in 2020 and was the party's nominee in 2024, has said she is "thinking" about a 2028 run, as she told the Rev. Al Sharpton in April. She has not announced a decision.

A question of overlapping support

Newsom explained his reasoning during the interview, which aired Monday evening on CNN. He said a primary contest between him and Harris would amount to "mutual assured destruction," citing the overlap in their political bases and circles.

"First of all, electorally it's a gift from God for everybody else," Newsom said. "They'd enjoy the hell out of it. Mutual assured destruction. It services no greater good. Why would I do this if I wasn't trying to serve some greater good? There would be no upside whatsoever."

The governor elaborated on the shared support between the two Californians: "I know her base of supporters; I know her friends," he said. "The Venn diagram on that is just pure crossover. I wouldn't do that to people. I wouldn't put them in that position."

Tapper noted that Harris has already had two chances to run for president, while Newsom has never launched a campaign. Newsom acknowledged the point, saying, "That would be the approach to the campaign, certainly. That would be the case you'd make. A pretty good one actually. That's objectively true."

Past considerations and 2024

Newsom also addressed why he did not challenge then-President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination in 2024, a question that arose as some speculated he might enter the race.

"I wasn't ready," Newsom said. He added that he would have been "crushed" if he had run because he didn't have a compelling reason: "I didn't have a why. You don't have a big enough why, then you don't belong there."

He noted that a presidential candidate needs a clear sense of purpose. "It's shocking how many presidential candidates can't answer their why," he said.

Family considerations

Newsom said his family would play a central role in any decision to pursue the White House. His wife and four school-aged children, he told Tapper, would have to support the decision.

"If they're not on board, that's a non-starter," Newsom said. He added that his children have reshaped his priorities: "I am not screwing anything up anymore, man. I know what matters in life. I've got four kids. It's the only thing that matters to me. They gotta be on board."

Earlier, Newsom told Politico's Jonathan Martin in March that whether his kids would want him to run "depends on the day of the week."

Reactions and context

The remarks drew reactions from political figures and commentators. Mark Buell, a top donor to Harris and her former finance chair, told journalist Zohreen Shah, "I don't believe it," adding that "there's no active underground fundraising effort being done."

Dan Schnur, a professor of political communications at USC and UC Berkeley, told the New York Post that he found Newsom's pledge difficult to credit: "It's impossible to believe Gavin Newsom will skip this presidential campaign for any reason." Schnur suggested the statement was likely based on a calculation that Harris would not run, allowing Newsom to appear generous without having to follow through.

Newsom's office did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment on his CNN remarks. Harris's office also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for Newsom, Bob Salladay, said he could not immediately offer more clarity on what the governor had meant, adding: "They've been friends long enough that they wouldn't play cat-and-mouse games on something this important."

Newsom has taken steps that many have read as preparation for a national campaign, including trips to South Carolina, the first state on the Democratic primary calendar, and a podcast launched after President Donald Trump took office. Harris has remained comparatively quiet since her 2024 loss, though she said in July she has "not made a decision" about 2028.

Polling has shown both Democrats in close hypothetical matchups against Vice President JD Vance. A recent Emerson College poll found Harris leading Vance 49 percent to 45 percent and Newsom leading him 49 percent to 44 percent.