Newsom speaks on rumored tumultuous relationship with Harris
An article from the Washington Examiner covers Gov. gavin Newsom addressing persistent rumors about a tumultuous relationship with Vice President Kamala Harris. Newsom rejects the notion that they dislike each other as “preposterous” and points to a long-standing, early-career bond-spanning more than two decades-highlighting moments like swearing Harris in as district attorney and his floor speech at her nomination convention, which he says affirmed their partnership.
He acknowledges a dynamic in which Harris often “goes first” politically, but stresses that they have aligned on shared goals and have supported each other on California politics and ballots.The piece notes ongoing speculation about both leaders possibly running for president in 2028 and mentions that both have published memoirs in the past year. Harris’s book 107 Days is described as containing digs at Newsom, who says Harris didn’t return his call after he publicly endorsed her early in her campaign; he also texted her that he had already supported her. Newsom says he has read excerpts from Harris’s book but not the full memoir, and notes his own memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, was released in February. The article situates these comments amid a broader media narrative about their relationship and future political plans.
Newsom speaks on rumored tumultuous relationship with Harris: ‘She goes first’
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) called the media speculation that he and former Vice President Kamala Harris do not like each other “preposterous,” but added that she typically steps forward first politically.
The two California natives have long fielded theories that, though they run in the same liberal circles, they are not close friends. Axios’s Alex Thompson pressed Newsom on the notion that they don’t like one another on Thursday, pointing out that Newsom did not give a speech at her nominating convention and that Harris took a dig at him in her book 107 Days.
“That is a preposterous premise of the question because we absolutely do,” Newsom said.
The California governor and former San Francisco mayor said his relationship with Harris “goes back 20 plus years.” Newsom highlighted that he instead spoke from the floor during Harris’s convention to cast California’s votes for her, arguing it was the “ultimate affirmation of that relationship.”
But Newsom did address the nature of their relationship when it comes to political moves, saying, “She goes first.”
“We’ve always been on the same ballot. When I got sworn in as mayor — I write about it in the book — I walked across the street, swore her in as district attorney. Obviously, she made her way to the state. I made my way to state shortly thereafter,” Newsom said. “So, I’ve always had a relationship in that respect, but I also have known my relationship to that relationship, that when she goes, she goes first.”
“I’ve always understood that, and that’s wonderful, and I think the press and pundits want to make something of that, and so they try to color it in,” Newsom said.
Pundits have pinned the two California politicians as two Democrats likely to run for president in 2028, with both Newsom and Harris releasing books in the past year.
In her book on her whirlwind 2024 presidential campaign following former President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the race, Harris takes a dig at Newsom. She ribbed Newsom for not calling her back after she called the governor to ask for his immediate endorsement in the race while he was on a hike.
“I remember texting her back. I said, ‘Kamala, I’ve already put out a statement supporting you. I’m the last person you need to talk to.’ But for whatever reason, she added that in, I think it created some color for the book,” Newsom told Axios on Thursday.
Though Newsom touted Harris’s book sales, saying they’ve done “unbelievably well,” Newsom admitted he has not fully read Harris’s 107 Days.
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“I’ve read excerpts,” Newsom said. “I admit, Kamala, I have not fully absorbed the book. I should, but I was more focused on getting mine out.”
Newsom released his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, in February.
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