Washington — Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom still haven’t completely smoothed over their rocky rapport, a gap that widened after Harris disclosed in her latest memoir that Newsom ignored her call when President Biden announced he wouldn’t run again.
The duo, long‑time political adversaries eyeing the 2028 Democratic nomination, both assumed roles in the same San Francisco office two decades ago—Harris as the city’s district attorney and Newsom as its mayor.
Today their relationship feels strained, a characterization that a recent profile of Harris in the New York Times highlights.
In her book, 107 Days, Harris opened with the incident: she was trying to rally key Democratic figures after Biden pulled out of the race on July 21, 2024, and Newsom failed to answer. She writes that he sent her the reply, “Hiking. Will call back.”
“But he never did,” she notes.
Newsom’s camp offered several explanations for his absence, ranging from a day on a treadmill to a later hike. He later framed the miss as a brief lapse, emphasizing that he backed Harris swiftly once Biden exited the field.
In an October chat with livestreamer ConnorEatsPants, Newsom said he texted Harris to ask why the call saga had been included in 107 Days. Harris replied, “On book tour. Get back to you later.” He added with a laugh, “Anyway, that’s the relationship.”
Newsom, who had been a vocal supporter of Biden until the 46th president’s sudden withdrawal, opted out of speaking at last year’s Democratic National Convention, where Harris emerged as the party’s nominee.
Polling now shows Newsom holding a 5.8‑point lead over his opponents in the national Democratic primary for 2028, according to the Latest RealClearPolitics composite.
When discussing the possibility of Newsom running in 2028, Harris told the New York Times that “He has to make that decision if he wants to first,” adding that “I think Gavin is very talented. I really do. And I think we have many talented people.”
Harris, who declined to pursue the California governorship next year, has kept her own 2028 ambitions vague but maintains she has plenty of accomplishments left to prove.
“I understand the focus on ’28 and all that,” she said. “But there will be a marble bust of me in Congress. I am a historic figure like any vice president of the United States ever was.”
True enough, marble statues of U.S. vice presidents stand in the Senate wing of the Capitol, recognizing their constitutional role as president of the Senate.
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