The California Governor is the best kind of bridge between America’s ideals and its realities. Newsom possesses a mix of both likability and depth, speaking to voters across race, class, and geography in ways that often feel out of reach for the more symbolic candidates.
If ever there were a moment made for Governor Gavin Newsom, this is it. The Democratic Party, after a marathon of historic candidates and ground-shifting campaigns, is facing the uncomfortable truth that for all its ideals, America still has a type it’s most comfortable with in the White House. Newsom—a polished progressive with a California tan, a resume stacked with wins, and the surprising advantage of being both the right shade and gender for mainstream preferences—seems to embody that type.
Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential bid in 2024 was a defiant, historic moment. She stood proudly in Barack Obama’s footsteps as a Black, South Asian woman born and raised in the heart of California, but her loss underscored a harsh reality about America’s “post-racial, post-gender” aspirations: they remain just that, aspirations. While Harris’s leadership and groundbreaking image were widely celebrated, the nation wasn’t ready. Now, Newsom stands poised as the next contender, wielding his own brand of progressive ideals that aren’t bound by identity and yet resonate across every corner of the Democratic map.
Newsom’s appeal, though, tells us as much about the Democrats as it does about the man himself. Here is a leader who doesn’t terrify moderates yet still commands a committed progressive following. His loyal fanbase includes women, Latinos, African-Americans, and younger Democrats who see in him a fighter who doesn’t just speak for values but enacts them. Newsom manages to embody the values of a proudly diverse party without needing to over-advertise it. His cross-section of appeal and familiarity with both liberal and mainstream voters presents the Democratic Party with an opportunity to re-focus around issues rather than images.
When we look at the arc of his political career, Newsom’s path becomes even more impressive. This is a former San Francisco mayor, lieutenant governor, and now a second-term governor, a man who grew up in one of the most economically and culturally complex states in the union. His long record includes early victories on gun reform, environmental policy, and housing, winning over some of the toughest audiences without compromising his progressive stance. He’s the same governor who, amid calls for national police reform, held the line in California, aiming for equity without endangering public safety. In an era of political performances, Newsom has long played the part of a sincere pragmatist.
Some Democrats might see his smooth rise and wonder: Is he what we need? In today’s America, though, the answer feels resoundingly yes. A good-looking, personable leader with a demonstrated track record, he’s the best kind of bridge between America’s ideals and its realities. Newsom possesses a mix of both likability and depth, speaking to voters across race, class, and geography in ways that often feel out of reach for the more symbolic candidates.
In a country where identity can be as much a barrier as a benefit, Newsom’s advantage might be his straightforward, almost universal appeal. His identity is exactly the right amount of “normal” to avoid tripping on the sensitivities and biases that derail campaigns. Yes, it might be disheartening to acknowledge that a white man has an edge over the first Black and South Asian female VP, but America’s history speaks for itself. And, let’s face it—Newsom’s whiteness and maleness come with less political baggage. Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign seemed to force her into the rigid mold of identity politics, while Newsom’s mere existence lets him sidestep that altogether.
This isn’t to say that Newsom’s whiteness is his only asset; far from it. He is adored by a core following that includes California’s diverse communities—Latinos, women, African-Americans, younger progressives—who see a man who has their backs but doesn’t need to shout about it. Newsom is someone who supports progressive reform without treating it like a Hollywood premiere. He’s polished without pretense, politically passionate without posturing. His popularity among Latinos, in particular, is telling, reflecting his years spent developing policies that address their needs while embracing their communities. While he champions immigrant rights and affordable healthcare, he does so in ways that resonate with blue-collar workers just as much as they do with young, idealistic college students.
Another point of curiosity with Newsom is how he’s handled his relationship with women voters, a critical part of the Democratic base. Unlike Harris, who struggled to break free from her symbolic role, Newsom seems to understand what women need from a candidate: consistency, loyalty, and respect. He has stood firm on reproductive rights and social issues, aligning with the concerns of women voters without needing to appear as anything other than what he is. It’s a rare quality in today’s identity-driven politics, and it may prove to be one of Newsom’s best assets in winning over the female voters who form the backbone of the Democratic Party.
Newsom’s ability to work within California’s polarized political climate also speaks to his staying power. In a state where political battles are as intense as the Pacific waves, he’s shown a deftness for coalition-building that has earned him a diverse following. He appeals to union members, environmentalists, and small business owners alike, shaping a policy platform that feels broad without being bland. When he champions affordable housing, gun reform, or climate action, it’s not just for show. His approach to governing one of the most complex states in the country is driven by sincerity, something American voters can sense amid the often disingenuous storm of national politics. Newsom’s critics might call him too moderate for the coastal cities or too liberal for the rural heartland, but that’s precisely his charm—he’s a progressive leader who doesn’t alienate the center.
As the Democrats look toward 2028, Newsom could offer them a lifeline back to electability without asking them to compromise their core values. His identity doesn’t carry the national baggage that haunted Harris’s campaign, and his policy priorities feel more accessible to Middle America than those of many prominent Democrats. With Newsom, Democrats can, for once, put their collective energy into the issues—climate, economy, healthcare—without the symbolic weight that has proven both inspiring and burdensome.
So, who would have thought that a California governor with a Hollywood smile and a 90s-boy-band haircut would come to embody the future of the Democratic Party? Newsom’s candidacy is both unexpected and inevitable, a testament to the new political climate as well as the familiar, subtle biases that shape American life. But, at a moment when the party is desperate for a unifying figure who can rally both progressives and centrists, Newsom stands ready with a unique blend of charisma, competence, and classic appeal.
America may not be ready to elect a woman president just yet. It may not be prepared to embrace identity as a central driver in national politics. But Gavin Newsom? He’s the Democrat who doesn’t make voters squirm. He’s smart, effective, and grounded. And for the first time in a long time, Democrats have someone who looks like he can win over America by being simply, unassumingly, himself.
TONY CASTRO, the former award-winning Los Angeles columnist and author, is a writer-at-large and the national political writer for LAMonthly. org. He is the author of the forthcoming novel The Book of Marilyn. He can be reached at tony@tonycastro.com.
