Gavin Newsom’s Political Vision: Learning from Bill Clinton

California Governor Gavin Newsom is drawing political inspiration from a former president amid growing speculation about his potential bid for the White House in 2028. Newsom shared with Vanity Fair his readiness for a presidential run, stating, “I don’t have a problem fighting. Nor do I have a problem getting roughed up and getting back up. I’ve been road tested. It’s not small ball out here in California.” Nearing the end of his final term as governor, Newsom pointed to former President Bill Clinton as a political model, describing Clinton as a “master of his craft.”

While Newsom claims he won’t pursue the presidency in 2028 if Kamala Harris runs, he continues to engage in political leadership at home. During a book tour event for his memoir, “Young Man in a Hurry,” Newsom spoke candidly about his political aspirations, revealing his admiration for Clinton. “I watch videos of Clinton. I seek his counsel, his advice, and even in his absence, do that. I’ve been a student of his from day one,” he shared.

The relationship between Newsom and Clinton goes beyond admiration from afar. Newsom disclosed that he frequently speaks with Clinton late at night, discussing policy, strategy, and ways to address California’s challenges. “He calls me late at night, wanting to talk about it, and he goes, ‘I’ve been thinking just nonstop about this. I just think you represent what they fear,’” Newsom remarked. Despite controversies surrounding Clinton’s past associations, Newsom praised him as an exceptional problem solver.

Newsom’s alignment with Clinton reflects his efforts to navigate the evolving Democratic Party. He distances himself from the establishment, portraying himself as a political “disrupter.” “I’m notoriously a disrupter at heart,” he told Vanity Fair. “I’ve never been for the status quo. Quite the contrary. I have a record that consistently challenges the status quo, and I tend to take risks to a degree that few elected officials do.”

Newsom is also preparing a 36-page book filled with policy ideas for a project known as Project 2029. This initiative aims at reforming various sectors including zoning, corporate tax, domestic strategies, childcare, family leave, and industrial decarbonization, among others. “No one touches these,” Newsom stated about his book’s content. “These are my own little version. This is just policy, not narrative, the kinds of things we need to do: zoning reform, corporate tax, junk-fee stuff, new domestic strategies and tariffs, preschool things, a cap on childcare, family leave, paid sick leave, child tax credits, industrial decarbonization, anti-monopoly stuff, immigration, whistleblower protections.”

Democratic strategist Doug Friednash commented on Newsom’s approach to Clinton’s political strategy. He warned that if the Democratic Party continues shifting left, it could potentially create challenges for Newsom in 2028. “At a time when the Democratic Party brand is incredibly unpopular with Americans, Newsom would be wise to take a page out of Bill Clinton’s playbook recognizing that Democrats need to appeal beyond its progressive left,” Friednash stated. Another strategist, Kaivan Shroff, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Clinton’s knack for balancing party and national priorities, which Newsom seems to be adopting.

Shroff argued, “Clinton’s lesson was that successful Democrats could move the party in new directions without losing touch with voters who did not speak the language of the activist left. Newsom seems to understand that distinction. The harder question is whether he can actually pull it off.”