California Gov. Gavin Newsom is taking his political operation deep into Trump country as speculation continues to build over his possible ambitions for the White House in 2028.
Newsom left California Tuesday for a four-day political tour through Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina, where he plans to campaign for Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm elections.
The timing is drawing attention.
California lawmakers just finished their regular legislative session, leaving Newsom with hundreds of bills awaiting action back home. Yet the term-limited Democratic governor is heading across the country as he works to expand his national political profile.
According to Newsom’s political team, the governor will visit more than 10 counties during the Southern swing.
Several of those communities backed President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
Newsom Heads Into Trump Territory
Newsom’s trip comes as speculation continues over whether he will seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
South Carolina could be especially important to those ambitions.
The Democratic National Committee has selected South Carolina as the opening contest on its 2028 presidential nominating calendar, with the state’s Democratic primary scheduled for Jan. 22.
That makes relationships with South Carolina activists, elected officials and voters potentially valuable for anyone considering a presidential campaign.
Democratic strategist Elizabeth Ashford said establishing an organization in the state early could make a significant difference if Newsom ultimately decides to run.
Building those political relationships years ahead of the election could give a prospective candidate an established network once the presidential campaign gets underway.
Newsom isn’t the only prominent Democrat paying attention.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, another possible 2028 presidential contender, recently traveled to South Carolina for appearances in Florence and Orangeburg.
Buttigieg struggled to win substantial support from Black voters during his unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign, making South Carolina an especially important political testing ground for any future bid.
Newsom Builds a National Profile
This is Newsom’s seventh trip to the South in three years, underscoring how much attention the California governor has devoted to politics outside his home state.
As Newsom approaches the end of his tenure in Sacramento, he has increasingly emerged as a national Democratic voice and prominent critic of Trump and Republican policies.
That has fueled persistent questions about whether his travels are about more than helping Democratic candidates.
Not every trip has gone smoothly.
Newsom’s recent visit to Michigan drew criticism from some Democrats there, illustrating the potential risks involved when an out-of-state politician arrives in communities with their own candidates and political priorities.
His latest Southern tour nevertheless gives Newsom another chance to develop relationships in states that could become important if he eventually launches a presidential campaign.
Alabama Is Newsom’s First Stop
Newsom begins his scheduled events Wednesday in Montgomery, Alabama.
His political team says the governor will focus heavily on civil rights and voting issues while criticizing Trump-backed changes involving mail-in voting.
Newsom is expected to appear with Alabama state Sen. Bobby Singleton, the newly elected chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party.
The California governor is also scheduled to tour historic civil rights locations with Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, participate in a town hall with community leaders and meet students at Alabama State University.
Newsom also plans to visit the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum with civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson.
His team is portraying the visit as an effort to connect historic civil rights struggles in the South with current Democratic concerns surrounding election laws, voting access and congressional redistricting.
Newsom Takes His Message to Trump-Won Counties
Newsom’s South Carolina itinerary may attract even more attention.
The Democratic governor will begin a two-day tour of the state Thursday while campaigning for Democrats seeking seats in the state legislature.
Newsom plans to visit Jasper, Beaufort and Dorchester counties Thursday, followed by Aiken, Lexington and Lancaster counties Friday.
Trump carried all six counties during the 2024 presidential election.
Instead of limiting his appearances to Democratic strongholds, Newsom’s political team says it wants to reach communities that national Democrats have sometimes overlooked.
That strategy will put one of America’s most prominent Democratic governors directly in communities that sided with Trump.
Newsom is also scheduled to visit Allen University, a historically Black university, alongside South Carolina state Rep. Jermaine Johnson, who is running for governor as a Democrat.
North Carolina Comes Next
Newsom will then head to North Carolina, where he is scheduled to participate in a Friday event with the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party in Charlotte.
Mecklenburg County contains the largest concentration of Democratic voters in North Carolina and could play an important role in statewide races.
Newsom plans to spend Saturday participating in political organizing and fundraising activities around Charlotte.
His itinerary includes helping launch a canvassing operation with local Democrats before traveling to neighboring Union County for a Labor Day weekend rally.
Union County presents another interesting political contrast.
Trump carried the county in 2024, once again putting Newsom on Republican-friendly political turf.
Newsom’s Fundraising Operation Expands
Newsom is bringing more than speeches and campaign appearances to Democratic organizations around the country.
His political operation says its small-dollar fundraising network has generated approximately $15.2 million for Democratic candidates, state parties and organizing operations nationwide.
More than $2.2 million has reportedly been directed toward Democratic efforts in Southern states.
According to Newsom’s team, the South Carolina Democratic Party has received more than $390,000, while Democratic organizations in North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana and Alabama have also benefited.
The fundraising allows Newsom to strengthen relationships with Democratic organizations well beyond California while simultaneously helping the party prepare for upcoming elections.
Those relationships could become increasingly important if he eventually decides to pursue the presidency.
Newsom Still Has Work Waiting in California
While Newsom campaigns thousands of miles from Sacramento, a substantial amount of unfinished business awaits him back home.
California lawmakers completed their legislative work Monday and sent hundreds of bills to the governor’s desk.
Newsom has until the end of September to determine which measures will become law and which will receive his veto.
His decision to leave California immediately after the legislative session is therefore likely to add another round of scrutiny over the amount of time he spends pursuing political activities outside the state.
For Newsom, however, the Southern tour provides something California cannot: direct exposure to voters and political organizations in states that could influence his national future.
And by deliberately visiting counties that supported Trump in 2024, Newsom is making his latest political road trip difficult to ignore.
For now, he says the mission is helping Democrats compete in the midterms.
But with South Carolina preparing to kick off the Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential contest, Newsom’s journey through Trump country is certain to keep another question alive:
Is the California governor campaigning for Democrats — or quietly preparing for a campaign of his own?