As the 2028 presidential race quietly takes shape, two California political giants—former Vice President Kamala Harris and outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom—find themselves at the center of a complex, sometimes frosty relationship that is drawing national attention. Their intertwined histories, personal memoirs, and recent public comments are fueling speculation about the future of the Democratic Party and the next occupant of the White House.
It all began anew in the summer of 2024, when President Joe Biden stunned the country by ending his bid for a second term. According to The New York Times, Harris, then Vice President, immediately reached out to Newsom to shore up crucial support from fellow Democrats. What happened next would become a focal point in her 2025 campaign memoir, 107 Days: Newsom missed her call, texting back, “Hiking. Will call back.” As Harris dryly noted in her book, “He never did.”
The incident, seemingly trivial at first glance, has become emblematic of the awkwardness that now defines the relationship between the two longtime California allies-turned-rivals. Both were sworn into prominent San Francisco offices on the same day more than twenty years ago—Newsom as mayor, Harris as district attorney. Yet today, their interactions are marked by a tension that has only grown as their political ambitions have expanded.
Newsom, for his part, has offered shifting explanations for the missed call. At one point, he said he was exercising on a treadmill; later, an aide clarified he had been on a treadmill before heading out for a hike. While Newsom was quick to endorse Harris after Biden’s withdrawal, he notably declined to speak at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, where Harris was formally named the party’s nominee. The move, observers say, was a clear sign of the distance between the two.
In an October interview with videogame streamer ConnorEatsPants, Newsom recounted texting Harris to ask why she included the missed call episode in her book. Her reply, he said, was characteristically brief: “On book tour. Get back to you later.” Newsom added with a chuckle, “Anyway, that’s the relationship.” According to Hearst Newspapers, Harris has offered only perfunctory praise for Newsom in public, describing him as “very talented” and noting, “I think we have many talented people.”
Despite the apparent chill, both Harris and Newsom continue to project confidence about their respective futures. Harris has been coy about her plans for 2028, insisting to The New York Times that she has little left to prove. “I understand the focus on ’28 and all that,” she reflected. “But there will be a marble bust of me in Congress. I am a historic figure like any vice president of the United States ever was.” The marble busts of vice presidents, of course, are a fixture in the Senate wing of the Capitol, a nod to their constitutional role as president of the Senate.
Meanwhile, Newsom’s star appears to be rising. As of December 10, 2025, he holds a 5.8 percentage-point lead in national polling for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, according to RealClearPolitics. His evolving image—from progressive firebrand to more centrist Democrat—has only fueled speculation that he is positioning himself for a White House run. But Newsom, too, has been careful to keep his intentions close to the vest, focusing instead on promoting his forthcoming memoir, Young Man in a Hurry.
That memoir, set for release on February 24, 2026, promises to offer an “intimate and poignant account of identity, belonging, and the defining moments that inspired a life in politics,” according to publisher Random House. Newsom himself has described it as “a truly vulnerable book,” aiming to peel back the layers of his public persona. “A lot of people look at me in the stark white shirt and blue suit and, yeah, the gelled hair and think ‘I know this guy,’” Newsom said in a video posted to X. “This is a truly vulnerable book.”
The book’s release was delayed from its original May 2025 date due to devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area, a crisis that brought criticism of Newsom’s leadership but also offered him a platform to demonstrate resilience. The memoir delves into his upbringing in San Francisco as the son of attorney and judge William Newsom and details his close ties to the Getty family, whose support was instrumental in his political rise. Newsom’s parents divorced when he was young, and his mother struggled, a reality he has addressed in interviews. Gordon and Ann Getty, the billionaire couple who dominated San Francisco society, considered Newsom a surrogate son and provided him with experiences—including an African safari—that shaped his worldview.
But Newsom’s journey has not been without controversy. As Random House and USC journalism professor Christina Bellantoni have noted, the governor’s personal life has been marked by public scandals. His messy marriage and divorce from Kimberly Guilfoyle, now a Fox News host and partner to Donald Trump Jr., made headlines. In 2007, Newsom admitted to sleeping with his campaign manager’s wife, Ruby Rippey Tourk, and publicly vowed to seek treatment for alcohol abuse. He also drew attention for dating a 19-year-old collegiate lacrosse player before eventually marrying actress Jennifer Siebel.
Bellantoni, who has covered politics for 25 years, sees Newsom’s memoir as part of a familiar playbook for politicians with presidential ambitions. “It’s all part of the ‘exploring the presidency’ formula: book tour, couple sexy anecdotes that get picked up in major news outlets … you get everybody talking about you,” she said. “We know what he’s positioning himself for and in the end, it’s not about selling books — it’s about getting your name out there and talked about.”
Newsom’s willingness to discuss his vulnerabilities extends beyond his memoir. On December 10, 2025, he credited the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk with helping him gain a deeper understanding of Christianity and its role in creating community and belonging. Speaking on The Ezra Klein Show, Newsom reflected, “It gives people meaning and purpose. It’s powerful … That’s powerful. Faith, community, belonging. These are, we’re desperate for that. And those are universal.” He described himself as “more spiritual than religious” and shared that he attends church on Christmas, acknowledging the importance of faith even for those, like himself, who may not be traditionally religious.
Newsom’s connection with Kirk, who died in 2025, was highlighted during a March podcast episode of “This Is Gavin Newsom,” where the two debated a range of political and social issues. Kirk’s final book, Stop, in the Name of God, was released posthumously on December 9, 2025, emphasizing themes of faith, family, and soul-nurturing. Newsom’s openness to dialogue with ideological opponents—and his public reflections on spirituality—could signal a broader attempt to appeal to a more diverse national electorate.
The coming months are likely to bring more revelations, both personal and political, as Harris and Newsom continue to define—and perhaps redefine—their roles within the Democratic Party. Whether their paths will collide or converge in the race for the White House remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the story of these two California powerhouses is far from over.
