As Democrats look toward the 2028 presidential election, two of California’s most prominent political figures appear increasingly likely to find themselves competing on the same national stage: former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The two Bay Area Democrats have shared overlapping political circles for more than two decades, building careers that began rising in tandem during San Francisco’s 2003 elections. Newsom won the mayor’s race that year, while Harris was elected district attorney. Since then, they have shared donors, consultants, staffers, mentors, and political allies, while developing a relationship often described as friendly but competitive.
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Democratic strategist Garry South likened their dynamic to “two cats, circling each other in an alley,” reflecting years of political rivalry beneath public displays of mutual respect.
Both politicians have reached the upper tiers of Democratic leadership, leaving the White House as the next logical electoral step. Newsom is widely expected to pursue a presidential campaign after completing his second term as governor, while Harris has publicly acknowledged she is considering another White House bid following her 2024 loss to President Donald Trump.
Early polling of potential Democratic contenders frequently places Harris and Newsom among the party’s leading figures, setting up what could become their first direct national contest.
Their rivalry has also surfaced in recent months through competing book tours. Harris’s memoir, 107 Days, has sold more than 385,000 copies through late May, according to Circana BookScan data. Newsom’s memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, has surpassed 100,000 copies since its February release. People familiar with both camps say aides closely monitor each other’s sales figures, while political action committees tied to both politicians have purchased thousands of copies for supporters.
The relationship has occasionally produced public tension. Harris wrote in her memoir that Newsom never returned a call seeking his support after former President Joe Biden exited the 2024 race. Newsom later disputed the account, saying he had already publicly endorsed her and exchanged messages afterward.
Despite occasional friction, spokespeople for both leaders emphasize that Harris and Newsom maintain mutual respect. Whether that respect can withstand a potentially crowded 2028 Democratic primary remains an open question.
