Can Newsom and Kamala join forces?
Former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are back in the headlines — not for solving problems, but for reviving old political drama as both position themselves for a future showdown with President Donald Trump. Their strained, uncomfortable relationship is gaining renewed attention and raising serious questions about the Democratic Party’s stability heading into 2028.
A Crumbling Alliance Inside the Democratic Party
According to a new profile from the New York Times, Harris and Newsom still haven’t repaired the damage from a very public slight: Harris revealed in her memoir that Newsom ignored her phone call the moment President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid in 2024. Harris wrote that she reached out immediately — only to receive a message from Newsom saying, “Hiking. Will call back.”
Her follow-up line was brutal: “He never did.”
For two career politicians who were sworn into office on the same day more than 20 years ago, their relationship today is defined by awkwardness, personal resentment, and political competition.
Newsom’s Shifting Story Raises Eyebrows
Newsom’s team has offered multiple explanations for his missed call — everything from being on a treadmill to heading out on a hike. The inconsistencies only fueled speculation about how deeply the rift runs.
After the excerpts from Harris’s book were released, Newsom defended himself by pointing out that he endorsed her quickly after Biden backed out. But in an interview months later, Newsom revealed he texted Harris asking why she aired the embarrassing story. Her response was icy and dismissive:
“On book tour. Get back to you later.”
Newsom chuckled and summed it up bluntly: “Anyway, that’s the relationship.”
Democrats Fracturing as Trump Gains Ground
While Democrats try to present a united front, the Harris–Newsom feud highlights a larger problem: the party’s top figures are more focused on personal ambition than solving real issues like inflation, border security, or rising crime.
Harris skipped a run for California governor, while Newsom refused to speak at the 2024 Democratic Convention where Harris was officially named the nominee. Both insist they aren’t thinking about the 2028 race — even though the polls say otherwise.
Newsom currently holds a narrow polling lead among likely Democratic voters, according to RealClearPolitics. Harris, meanwhile, insists she has nothing left to prove, highlighting that every vice president receives a marble bust in the U.S. Capitol. “I am a historic figure,” she said.
Two Rivals, One Goal: Stop Trump
Despite years of tension and political backstabbing, Harris and Newsom now appear to be aligning whenever necessary to oppose President Trump’s agenda and rebuild their own careers. For many Americans — especially older voters — the renewed partnership looks less like leadership and more like political survival.
As Trump’s movement grows stronger nationwide, Democrats are scrambling to find unity. Yet their top contenders can’t even agree on a phone call.