If Gavin Newsom ever wants to become president, Kamala Harris needs to lose

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said repeatedly that he has no desire to ever become president of the United States.

When asked by the San Francisco Chronicle editorial board if he would pledge not to run for president before his term as governor expired, Newsom responded by saying, “Yeah, I mean, I have sub-zero interest…It’s not even on my radar.”

Thanks to the atypical circumstances surrounding this election, primarily the Democrats swapping out President Joe Biden for Vice President Kamala Harris, Newsom won’t have an opportunity to run this time around, but make no mistake, that choice was not his to make.

This fact was not unnoticed by Newsom.

While at the Democratic National Convention, Newsom joined the hosts of the podcast “Pod Save America” where he was asked what he thought about ‘the switch.’

“We went through a very open process, a very inclusive process. It was bottom-up, I don’t know if you know that. That’s what I’ve been told to say,”  Newsom said sarcastically.

Its comments like that which leads to everyone around Newsom to believe that he’s being less than honest when he says he never wants to be president — Not the reporters who cover him, elected officials who serve with him or potential rivals for the Oval Office.

Newsom and the White House are like two people who claim complete disinterest in each other while behind their backs people are whispering, “Why don’t you two get a room?”

The problem for Newsom is that “the switch” really screwed up his timing.

Had Biden stayed the Democratic nominee, win or lose, the presidency would have been an open seat in 2028, with an open and robust Democratic primary, not a coronation of Harris.

Now, if Harris wins, she will be eligible to run for another term in 2028 and Newsom will be boxed out until 2032 — an eternity in politics.

Particularly for a politician out of power.

Luckily for Newsom, early and mail-in balloting for the 2032 presidential election starts in two weeks.

Due to voter imposed term limits, Newsom is ineligible to run for reelection as governor in 2026.  Running for any other statewide constitutional office would be seen as a massive step down.  Both of the state’s U.S. Senate seats will likely be occupied by relatively young Democrats, who won’t ever have to worry about term limits booting them from office.

In short, there is no natural place for Newsom to land in order to keep himself relevant beyond 2026.

If Harris wins, Newsom could be appointed to a lucrative ambassadorship or cabinet post.

Secretary of Joy, for example.

But, that would all be at the discretion of Harris.

If Newsom wants to remain in elected office, he could go back to San Francisco and run to replace Nancy Pelosi when she decides to call it quits. Traditionally, going from governor of California to a rank and file member of the House of Representatives would be seen as a step back, but not replacing her, and not in that seat.

The easiest, and potentially only way for Newsom to become president, is for Harris to lose this November.

That scenario would create an open seat in 2028 and give Democratic voters the motivation to find a fresh face at the top of the ticket.

That man could be Newsom.

Plus, should Gavin ever run for president he can count on the support of Big Pharma, Big Ag, and Big COVID-19 Mask.

Politics creates strange bed fellows. Maybe Newsom will secretly vote for Trump this November with hopes of making things MAGA in 2028 — Make America Gavin Again.