Newsom’s Campaign Swing to South Carolina Reveals His California Problem

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All In For President

Gavin Newsom’s de facto campaign kickoff for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination is now behind us. Fresh from a South Carolina tour, his national ambitions are unmistakable. His two-day sprint through rural churches and coffee shops was pitched as rallying Democrats and pushing for disaster relief. Yet, the real goal was a White House run. His California baggage—homelessness, soaring costs, progressive policies gone astray—threatens to derail him before he even gets started.

Our State’s Damaged Reputation

Newsom’s South Carolina trip felt more like political theater than genuine outreach. He cast California as the anti-Trump beacon, a bold foe of Republican policies. However, protesters’ signs decrying his divisive causes revealed that California’s image is not the progressive dream he sells to national audiences. Our housing crisis, with median home prices nearing $900,000 and homeless encampments littering our streets, signals profound mismanagement. South Carolinians see our state as a cautionary tale, not a model to emulate.

A Liberal in Moderate Clothing

Newsom tried tempering his progressive roots, claiming pragmatism and past conservatism as a mayor. His record 123 lawsuits during Trump’s two terms in office, sanctuary state policies, boondoggles like high-speed rail, and let’s not forget his defense of boys playing in girls' competitive sports (a South Carolina favorite) make him a hard sell in red states where voters remain skeptical of California-style governance. South Carolina Democrats signaled that progressive flair does not resonate with their more moderate constituencies. His moderate posturing feels like a lion in sheep’s clothing—unconvincing to those who know his true political stripes.

Backing Biden Until The End - A Painful Liability

Newsom’s loyalty to Joe Biden weighs heavily on his presidential prospects. Defending Biden’s faltering 2024 campaign ties him to a tarnished brand that many Democrats would rather forget. South Carolina, key to Biden’s 2020 success, questions Newsom’s judgment for not urging Biden to step aside sooner when the writing was on the wall. His jab at Trump’s border czar may thrill our coastal base but risks alienating swing voters who care more about results than rhetoric. Rep. James Clyburn praised Newsom’s potential but tellingly withheld an endorsement.

California’s Troubles Trail Him

Newsom’s most significant obstacle remains our state’s troubled record. South Carolina voters worried that our crime, wildfires, and affordability crisis would be weaponized against him in a national campaign. In Pickens, protesters called California chaotic and ungovernable. Some Democrats favored other candidates, citing Newsom’s considerable baggage. His podcast outreach to conservatives estranges his base without winning over skeptics who view him as just another liberal politician in disguise. Our state’s challenges are a political albatross around his neck.

A Perilous Path Forward

Newsom raised $160,000 for South Carolina’s Democratic Party, flexing his fundraising strength and political network. But money cannot dispel fundamental doubts about his electability and governing philosophy. South Carolina demands authenticity from its politicians. Newsom’s calls to restore America’s soul evade more complex questions about his governance record. If he cannot fix our homelessness and crime problems here at home, how can he credibly lead America? For the next year and a half, we Californians will grapple with how Newsom’s 2028 focus will shape his governance here, prioritizing national optics over our state’s pressing needs.

As Newsom travels the country, you can be sure that we will be covering it every time.

This column draws information from articles in Politico, The Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times.