This past weekend, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom told Business Insider that he is not planning to run for president.
“Not happening, no, no, not at all,” he said. “I’ve said it in French, Italian. I don’t know German. I mean, I cannot say it enough.”
Newsom says presidential run “not happening”
“But thank you. It’s humbling. It is sweet. It’s a nice thing to be asked. I mean it, and I never trust politicians, so I get why you keep asking,” Newsom continued.
“California, I mean, what a gift,” the governor added. “Forty million Americans strong. We talk about laboratories of democracy, and we’re able to scale ideas that have impact all across this country and around the world. I’m very proud of that privilege, and I don’t take it for granted one day.”
“I was almost recalled last year,” Newsom recalled. “They went after me hard. That’s sobering, and that wakes you up. How vulnerable, how fast this is, how people come and go, and you know, people cut you off.”
Yet despite the governor’s insistence that he has no plans to seek higher office, some of Newsome’s actions have suggested otherwise.
California governor releases campaign-style ads
Newsom made headlines earlier this year when he released a campaign-style television ad that attacked Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and beckoned people to leave Florida for California.
We’re about to celebrate Independence Day — but Freedom is under attack by Republican leaders in states like Florida.
Banning books.
Restricting speech.
Making it harder to vote.
Criminalizing women and doctors.It’s time to stand up. Don’t let them take your freedom. pic.twitter.com/cFI5UzgZzX
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 3, 2022
“Freedom, it’s under attack in your state. Republican leaders, they’re banning books, making it harder to vote, restricting speech in classrooms, even criminalizing women and doctors,” Newsom declared.
“I urge all of you living in Florida to join the fight. Or join us in California, where we still believe in freedom — freedom of speech, freedom to choose, freedom from hate and the freedom to love,” he added.
In July, NBC reported that Newsom released another ad in which went after Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on the issue of abortion.
“If Texas can ban abortion and endanger lives, California can ban deadly weapons of war and save lives. If Governor Abbott truly wants to protect the right to life, we urge him to follow California’s lead,” the said.