California Governor Gavin Newsom is undertaking a four-day political tour through the Southern United States, campaigning for Democratic candidates and engaging with local communities in Alabama, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The trip, which began Tuesday, follows the conclusion of California's legislative session and comes amid ongoing speculation about Newsom's potential 2028 presidential aspirations.
Newsom's itinerary includes stops in over 10 counties, where he is focusing on mobilizing voters for the midterm elections. South Carolina, recently designated as the first state in the Democratic Party's 2028 presidential nominating calendar, is a significant stop on his tour. The state's primary is scheduled for January 22, offering Newsom an opportunity to build relationships with activists and voters in a state that could be crucial for any future White House bid.
"It’s incredibly important to have boots on the ground with communities in this pivotal first primary state," said Elizabeth Ashford, a Democratic political strategist. "It’s going to make all the difference if he decides to run, having those relationships and ground game in place."
Newsom's visit to the South marks his seventh trip to the region in three years. His political team has framed these travels as an effort to connect historical civil rights struggles with contemporary issues such as voting access and redistricting. In Montgomery, Alabama, Newsom is scheduled to appear with state Sen. Bobby Singleton, the Alabama Democratic Party chairman, and tour civil rights landmarks with Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed. He is also slated to meet with community leaders, students at Alabama State University, and civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson at the Equal Justice Initiative's Legacy Museum.
In South Carolina, Newsom is expected to campaign for Democrats in competitive state House districts. His schedule includes visits to Jasper, Beaufort, and Dorchester counties on Thursday, and Aiken, Lexington, and Lancaster counties on Friday. All six of these counties voted for Donald Trump in 2024. Newsom's team argues that these areas are often overlooked by national Democrats who tend to focus on reliably blue regions.
On Friday, Newsom will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, for an event with the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party. Mecklenburg County, which has the largest concentration of Democratic voters in the state, is considered vital for statewide Democratic contests. The governor's weekend activities will include organizing and fundraising efforts around Charlotte, including a canvassing drive with local Democrats, and participation in a Labor Day weekend rally in Union County, which Trump also carried in 2024.
Newsom's political operation reports that his small-dollar fundraising network has generated $15.2 million for Democratic candidates, state parties, and national organizing efforts. Of this total, over $2.2 million has been directed towards Democrats in Southern states, including more than $390,000 for the South Carolina Democratic Party and contributions to Democratic organizations in North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Alabama.
Other potential 2028 Democratic contenders have also been active in early primary states. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited South Carolina the previous weekend, making stops in Florence and Orangeburg. The current trip by Newsom occurs as California lawmakers have sent hundreds of bills to his desk for consideration before the end of September.