California Governor Gavin Newsom wasted little time endorsing Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee in July last year, shortly after President Joe Biden abruptly exited the 2024 race. That swift show of unity, Newsom has since noted, made him scratch his head when Harris recounted a less flattering moment in her campaign memoir, 107 Days.
In the book, Harris describes calling Newsom on the day Biden dropped out, only to receive a terse reply: “Hiking. Will call back.” Newsom later clarified that he had been on a treadmill at the time and went for a hike afterward, an explanation echoed by an aide to The New York Times. Still, the anecdote stuck enough for the governor to text Harris after reading the book, asking why she chose to include it given his prompt and politically significant endorsement.
Harris’ response mirrored the original exchange. “On book tour. Get back to you later,” she texted back, a moment Newsom recounted with amusement during an October “Fortnite Friday” interview. Laughing, he said he followed up to remind her that just hours after that missed call, he publicly endorsed her for president. “Anyways, that’s the relationship,” Newsom quipped.
The Times highlighted the exchange as Democrats quietly size up their future. Newsom, increasingly viewed as a frontrunner for 2028, has avoided blaming Harris for her loss to President Donald Trump. “We got our a**es kicked, and it wasn’t just Kamala,” he said, citing difficult circumstances for any Democrat. At the same time, he has laid visible groundwork for a potential run, bolstered by California voters approving a redistricting plan favorable to Democrats and by his aggressive online sparring with Trump.
Harris, meanwhile, has been more circumspect. While downplaying speculation about 2028, she emphasized her historic role as the first woman and first woman of color elected vice president. She has also quietly worked the phones, calling more than 40 Democratic winners across the ideological spectrum, from governors-elect to local officials in deep-red states.
Asked about Newsom’s ambitions, Harris struck a diplomatic note. “He has to make that decision if he wants to,” she said. “I think Gavin is very talented. And I think we have many talented people.”
