Politics

California’s Newsom will run for president if Biden doesn’t: report

​California Gov. Gavin Newsom is “undeniably, unequivocally” preparing to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2024 if President Biden decides not to run for a second term and is poised to take on Vice President Kamala Harris, according to a report on Monday.

Newsom, who recently challenged Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to a debate over his sending 50 migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, plans to make an announcement after the midterm elections once the president relays his intentions, The Wrap reported.

“No ifs, ands or buts. He will run if Biden does not,” a leading California fundraiser told the outlet.

The governor, who is running for reelection against Republican Brian Dahle in deep blue California and is expected to win easily, has also been running ads against in Texas to taunt Gov. Greg Abbott about gun laws in the Lone Star State.

But Biden, in an interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes” Sunday, said it was “much too early” to declare his intentions to seek a second term.

“Look, my intention, as I said to begin with, is that I would run again,” the president said. “But it’s just an intention. But is it a firm decision that I run again? That remains to be seen.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is reportedly planning to run for president in 2024 if President Biden decides not to run. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Newsom for the record has said he has no interest in running for president but he has in the past months been increasing his profile outside California. ​​

Last week, he launched billboard campaigns in seven GOP-led states ​offering residents information about abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe. v. Wade in June. 

He also established a website — abortion.ca.gov — to point out that the procedure is legal and protected in California.​

“Here is my message to any woman seeking abortion care in these anti-freedom states: Come to California. We will defend your constitutional right to make decisions about your own health,” Newsom said in a news release Thursday.  

Biden said in a “60 Minutes” interview that it was “much to early” to confirm that he was running again in 2024. Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

“The idea that these Republican politicians are seeking to ‘protect life’ is a total farce. They are seeking to restrict and control their constituents and take away their freedom​,” it continued.

He also sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland seeking an investigation into Abbott and DeSantis for transporting migrants to cities outside their states, including the Florida governor’s flying 50 migrants to Martha’s Vineyard. ​​

DeSantis, who is considered likely to seek the Republican presidential nomination, shrugged off the threat.

“So the governor of California sent a letter to the Department of Justice saying, ‘You need to prosecute Texas and Florida Governors.’ And all I can say is, I think his hair gel is interfering with his brain function,” DeSantis ​said in response.​

Newsom is currently running for reelection in California against Republican Brian Dahle. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

He has also been a big proponent of green initiatives — which has earned him call outs as a hypocrite.

Earlier this month he was trashed for wearing a fleece jacket in a seemingly air-conditioned room while urging California residents to “save energy” amid a historic heat wave.

It’s not the first time he has failed to follow his own rules and recommendations.

In November 2020, he notoriously attended a dinner party at the acclaimed Napa Valley restaurant The French Laundry after he discouraged households from gathering over the holidays. He later apologized.

Newsom’s office shot down the 2024 run report, saying the Democratic governor has no plans to mount a presidential bid and included a Twitter posting with him addressing the possibility. 

“I’ve tried to say, ​no, ​no way, in every way I possibly can!”​ he said in an interview in July.​“I may need advice ​and counsel of what’s the language to express ‘absolutely no!’”