SAN FRANCISCO — California Governor Gavin Newsom dismissed speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run with a blunt two-word response during a press conference on Thursday, calling the idea “wildly premature.” The remark came amid heightened buzz surrounding his upcoming memoir and a series of high-profile appearances that have drawn comparisons to the strategies of past presidential hopefuls.
Newsom made the comment at a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station in the San Francisco region, where he signed a bill providing a $590 million bridge loan to several key public transit agencies, including BART, Muni, AC Transit, and Caltrain. The funding is intended to prevent severe service cuts that could affect millions of riders, such as station closures and route reductions. According to Newsom's office, the loan features a 12-year repayment term and will not impact the state's general fund.
The governor's appearance at the BART station was part of a broader push to address ongoing challenges in California's public transportation infrastructure. Transit systems in the Bay Area have faced financial strains exacerbated by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which reduced ridership and fare revenues. State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco, who championed the legislation alongside Berkeley Senator Jesse Arreguin, praised the measure in a statement. “This loan will avert a traffic catastrophe and save millions of Bay Area transit riders from losing their ride to work, family, and school,” Wiener said.
During the event, Newsom also shared a personal note about a recent tragedy in the state. He revealed that some of his “family friends” were among the backcountry skiers killed in a deadly avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area earlier this week. The avalanche, which occurred on a remote slope in the Sierra Nevada mountains, claimed the lives of at least three experienced skiers, according to preliminary reports from local authorities. Newsom did not elaborate further on the identities of the victims but expressed condolences to the broader community affected by the incident.
The presidential speculation, however, overshadowed much of the transit-focused press conference. Newsom's upcoming book, titled Young Man in a Hurry, is set for release on February 24, 2026, and details his childhood in San Francisco, his vibrant personal life, and his rise through California politics. The memoir has fueled rumors of national ambitions, especially given the governor's recent activities. In the past three weeks, Newsom has made two trips to Europe, where he engaged in events aimed at projecting a statesmanlike image. Additionally, he has launched a social media campaign that observers have likened to former President Donald Trump's style of headline-grabbing posts.
When pressed by reporters from the New York Post about whether he was indeed preparing a bid for the White House, Newsom pivoted quickly to promote his book. “But there is a book — and by the way, it talks a lot about the Bay Area and our respective histories, and I’m looking forward to sharing it … and we’ll be on that book tour, this weekend and a little bit through next week,” he said.
The book tour itinerary has only intensified the chatter. It kicks off this weekend in Nashville, Tennessee, where Newsom will headline a fundraiser for the Tennessee Democratic Party. From there, stops are planned in Georgia, South Carolina, and New Hampshire — the latter two states holding early positions in the Democratic presidential primary calendar. Politico reported on the tour's schedule, noting its alignment with key early-voting battlegrounds.
Newsom elaborated on the broader context of his activities during the press conference, framing them within a national narrative. “Not just my journey — we’ll see where it takes us — but it’s a precious time in American history and we’re on the 250th anniversary of this great adventure that our Founding Fathers conceived of in the best of the Roman Republic and Greek democracy,” he said. He emphasized the current challenges to the rule of law, adding, “Whether or not we tempt fate and decide to enter in a particular race or serve in a particular office, all of us have a responsibility and a role at this time to stand tall, and I think that’s represented here today.”
Background on Newsom's political trajectory adds layers to the speculation. Elected governor in 2018 and reelected in 2022, Newsom has positioned himself as a prominent critic of the Trump administration, particularly on issues like immigration, climate change, and democratic norms. Recent polls have placed him at or near the top of potential Democratic contenders for 2028, alongside former Vice President Kamala Harris, another Californian. Surveys from outlets like Emerson College and Quinnipiac show Newsom leading with support in the 20-25% range among Democratic voters when asked about the next presidential nominee.
Betting markets reflect similar sentiment. On platforms like Kalshi, Newsom is the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, with odds favoring him over other figures such as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro or Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. These indicators come as the Democratic Party searches for a post-Biden direction following the 2024 election, where Harris's loss to Trump has left the field wide open.
Newsom's memoir and tour are not isolated; they fit into a pattern seen among ambitious politicians. Historians note that books have long served as vehicles for presidential aspirants, from Barack Obama's Dreams from My Father to Bill Clinton's My Life. Newsom's work, published by a major house with a reported advance in the seven figures, delves into his Marin County upbringing, his business ventures in the wine industry, and his tenure as San Francisco mayor before ascending to the statehouse.
Meanwhile, the transit loan signing underscores pressing domestic priorities in California. The Bay Area's transportation network serves over 1.5 million daily riders under normal conditions, but post-pandemic recovery has been uneven. BART, for instance, reported a 40% drop in ridership compared to pre-2020 levels as of late 2025. The $590 million infusion is seen as a stopgap; transit advocates are already gearing up for a more permanent solution. They plan to place a regional ballot measure on the November 2026 ballot that would raise the sales tax by a quarter-cent, potentially generating up to $1 billion annually for transit operations and maintenance.
Supporters of the measure, including environmental groups and labor unions, argue it is essential for reducing traffic congestion and supporting California's aggressive climate goals, which aim for zero-emission transit by 2040. Critics, however, worry about the burden on low-income residents in an already high-cost region. Newsom has expressed support for such initiatives in the past, signing similar tax measures during his tenure.
Looking ahead, Newsom's schedule suggests no slowdown in his national profile-building. The book tour will keep him in the public eye through mid-March, overlapping with early discussions about the 2028 primaries. At the same time, California's state budget battles loom, with a projected $20 billion deficit for the 2026-27 fiscal year that could test his leadership on economic issues.
As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026, Newsom's invocation of the Founding Fathers resonates with themes of democratic renewal. Whether his “journey” leads to Sacramento's continued helm or a larger stage remains unclear, but his actions continue to invite scrutiny from both allies and opponents. For now, the governor insists the focus should be on the present challenges facing the state and country.