Gavin Newsom’s 2028 Gambit: Scott Wiener as His Achilles’ Heel

California Governor Gavin Newsom wants to be president and has completed a remarkable turnaround over the past five months to make himself a favorite for the Democrats. However, with Nancy Pelosi’s announced retirement, the politician who represents perhaps Newsom’s biggest liability might be coming to Congress next year: State Senator Scott Wiener.

As recently as June, Newsom’s outlook for the Democratic nomination was bleak. He was coming off a number of crushing setbacks: the disastrous Los Angeles wildfires, his widely disliked turn as a podcaster, oil refinery closures that threatened to spike California gas prices, and massive “structural deficits” in his state budget. He had ticked off government workers’ unions with pay freezes, Planned Parenthood by trying to siphon state family planning funds for other purposes, and the broader left with his flip-flop on Medi-Cal for illegal aliens. These were all faults that opened him to attacks from both Republicans and, more critically for purposes of a Democratic primary, his fellow Democrats.

JG

About the Author

John Gerardi

John Gerardi is the executive director of Right to Life of Central California in Fresno. A lawyer and the founding CEO and current development director of the Obria Medical Clinics of Central California, he hosts the radio shows and podcasts The John Gerardi Show and Right to Life Radio.

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California Governor Gavin Newsom wants to be president and has completed a remarkable turnaround over the past five months to make himself a favorite for the Democrats. However, with Nancy Pelosi’s announced retirement, the politician who represents perhaps Newsom’s biggest liability might be coming to Congress next year: State Senator Scott Wiener.

As recently as June, Newsom’s outlook for the Democratic nomination was bleak. He was coming off a number of crushing setbacks: the disastrous Los Angeles wildfires, his widely disliked turn as a podcaster, oil refinery closures that threatened to spike California gas prices, and massive “structural deficits” in his state budget. He had ticked off government workers’ unions with pay freezes, Planned Parenthood by trying to siphon state family planning funds for other purposes, and the broader left with his flip-flop on Medi-Cal for illegal aliens. These were all faults that opened him to attacks from both Republicans and, more critically for purposes of a Democratic primary, his fellow Democrats.