Polymarket places Newsom’s 2028 presidential victory odds at 22% after he hints at possible run

As of Sunday, Newsom ranked second behind Vice President JD Vance, who led at 29 percent. Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stood at 8 percent, while President Donald Trump trailed at 4.3 percent, though Trump will be constitutionally ineligible to run again after completing his second term.

In an interview that aired Sunday on CBS, Newsom confirmed he is weighing a presidential campaign after the 2026 midterm elections. When asked if he had given the idea “serious thought,” Newsom replied, “I’d be lying otherwise.” His current term as governor ends in January 2027, and term limits prevent him from seeking re-election.

Newsom added in the interview that he is “looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment,” and that it will ultimately be up to voters to decide.

The governor has long been viewed as a potential Democratic contender, having slowly built a national profile beyond California. In recent months, he has ramped up his public outreach, launching a podcast earlier this year featuring guests from both political parties and adopting a more combative social media presence similar to President Trump’s.

Back in April, Newsom suggested that the Democratic Party is suffering from an identity crisis with no clear direction.

“I don’t know what the party is,” Newsom told The Hill. “I’m still struggling with that.”

He further argued that there must be a period within the Democratic Party for self-reflection and accountability after its losses, adding, “If you don’t learn the lessons of the past, you will repeat them.”