The presidential election has been over for just a few days, but California governor Gavin Newsom (D) is already positioning himself as the leader of a new resistance to President-elect Donald Trump's second term. 

Newsom warned he would call on the state legislature to "Trump-proof" California even as Trump won 40% of the vote there.

Newsom declares war

Despite the defiant talk, Trump made sweeping gains nationwide, winning the popular vote and all of the swing states. Trump won about 40% of the vote in California and came within single digits of winning Illinois and New Jersey.

Trump's commanding re-election victory has faced a backlash from Democratic governors, including Newsom, who have signaled an upcoming effort to revive the "resistance" that Trump faced during his first term from liberal states.

Ignoring Trump's decisive mandate, Newsom revived the bellicose rhetoric of the "resistance," warning he would stop any "unlawful" federal action in California.

"I just called an emergency special session to help bolster our legal resources and protect our state against any unlawful actions by the incoming Trump Administration,” Newsom posted on X.

“Whether it be our fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, or climate action — we refuse to turn back the clock and allow our values and laws to be attacked.”

President-elect Trump responded to Newsom on Truth Social.

"Governor Gavin Newscum is trying to KILL our Nation’s beautiful California. For the first time ever, more people are leaving than are coming in. He is using the term “Trump-Proof” as a way of stopping all of the GREAT things that can be done to “Make California Great Again,” but I just overwhelmingly won the Election," Trump wrote.

Eyes on 2028?

A central piece of Trump's second term agenda is to carry out a massive deportation operation. California, a "sanctuary state," has the highest percentage of foreign-born residents in the nation, and the state's laws confer various benefits on illegal immigrants.

With his vow to oppose Trump, Newsom appears to be setting himself up for a 2028 presidential run. The Democratic field is basically open as the party reckons with Kamala Harris' historic defeat.

Despite rumors that he would run in 2024, Newsom joined the rest of his party in supporting Joe Biden's ill-fated re-election bid, which unraveled over the summer. Biden dropped out under pressure from his party after a disastrous debate, endorsing Vice President Harris.

After a brief and intense campaign battle, Harris lost to President Trump in a historic landslide.

The Democrats' drubbing has opened a rift within the party, as Democrats go looking for scapegoats for their massive loss. Meanwhile, ambitious Democrats like Newsom seem to have their minds set on the next presidential cycle.