Who goes to Michigan to build the foundation for a presidential run without contacting the state's most prominent elected officials and party pooh-bahs?
Gavin Newsom, that's who.
Of course, the California governor claims he was simply there to raise money for Democrat candidates; we all know that's a load of horse manure.
But, he made some key mistakes that led to a "mixed reception" on the ground, Politico reports. He didn't reach out to Rep. Debbie Dingell, widow of legendary Michigan Democrat John Dingell; she believes Newsom knew that she, as a "car girl," wasn't fond of his stance on getting rid of gas-powered vehicles. If he did realize that, perhaps he might understand that he might need to take that position into consideration when attempting to win a presidential primary there.
Newsom did attempt to schedule a meeting with United Auto Workers (UAW) president Shawn Fain, again according to Politico, but it "didn't materialize, according to a source familiar." Fain is also a rumored potential 2028 candidate. Then, he snubbed Virgie Rollins, who heads the DNC's Black Caucus:
“Every Democratic president that has won an election has been in my house,” Rollins told Playbook. “I did not hear from him. I did not get a call.”
He was forced to cancel a fundraiser, too:
Some Michigander politicos pointed out that Newsom canceled a fundraiser with state AG nominee Eli Savit that included the controversial host Kelly Neumann, according to an invite obtained by POLITICO and circulated to some Democrats who didn’t realize the event was canceled when Newsom’s team was made aware of Neumann’s background.
Newsom initially planned two competing fundraisers in Ann Arbor on Sunday, one for Savit and one for the state House Democrats. When the latter found out about the Savit fundraiser they pulled out, citing a small Ann Arbor donor base. Neumann ultimately didn’t attend the former, and didn’t respond to a request for comment.
He did, however, meet with Abdul El-Sayed and Elissa Slotkin. Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens, who recently lost the Senate primary to El-Sayed, and who can actually connect with normal people, was in California.
Like that of Kamala Harris before him, it's clear that Gavin Newsom's California Democrat brand of condescension isn't popular in other states. He apparently didn't learn anything from his tour of the South in 2023, when Politico then observed:
[L]ike a California cabernet left out on a humid afternoon, the Newsom brand may not travel all that well. Montgomery is a long way from Sacramento, and Newsom’s political machine has only been tested in friendly territory, where his party enjoys a supermajority. Many Democrats will be glad to spend his money, but it’s far less clear that they’ll want his advice or his obsessive focus on the culture-war contrasts between Democratic and Republican states.
[T]his strategy bets that the message of a California governor — who made his fortune in fine wines and has deep ties to elite San Franciscans like Nancy Pelosi — can resonate elsewhere.
He was cringey enough to be passed over for the Dem nomination in 2024 after his aunt-by-marriage, Nancy Pelosi, metaphorically shivved Joe Biden off the top of the ticket, but in 2025, Newsom made strides in his national profile by fighting Republican redistricting efforts across the country, and by winning a constitutionally-questionable referendum to further gerrymander California's congressional districts. This put him back in contention for 2028.
This year, he used a "book tour" as cover to visit states like Nevada, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Georgia, but stuck his foot in his mouth repeatedly. Remember this gem?
Gov. Newsom to a black crowd in GA: "I am like you. I'm a 960 SAT guy. I can't read." pic.twitter.com/4Gk0WKbIYz
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 23, 2026
Then, of course, there was his kneepad stunt at Davos, which was probably also a dig at his frenemy, Kamala Harris.
🇺🇸🇨🇭 Gavin Newsom arrives at the World Economic Forum in Davos with “Trump-signature kneepads,” suggesting world leaders are grovelling to Donald Trump.
— Europa.com (@europa) January 22, 2026
Follow: @europa pic.twitter.com/3OTDJe8Z3n
That stunt also failed, mostly because Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had a better insult ready, saying from the stage, “Governor Newsom, who strikes me as Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken, may be the only Californian who knows less about economics than Kamala Harris.”
Scott Bessent on Gavin Newsom: “Governor Newsom, who strikes me as Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken, may be the only Californian who knows less about economics than Kamala Harris.” pic.twitter.com/7bWOuIsV1h
— Ryan Saavedra (@RyanSaavedra) January 21, 2026
As conditions in California worsen, and are increasingly known across the country, Newsom's clown show is less popular. Spencer Pratt observed that the crowd of old folks there to see Newsom at the annual BBQ hosted by Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel wasn't very large.
Gavin Newsom pulling a massive crowd of 17 septuagenarians in Michigan. Yeah he's DEFINITELY gonna be the nominee for President. LMAO. pic.twitter.com/GrLf3Ebc2X
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) August 11, 2026
Of course, Newsom's press office argued that it was a large crowd, demonstrating Newsom's prowess as a candidate. This from the same people who are constantly downplaying the size of crowds there to see Donald Trump.
Newsom's currently polling in the middle of the pack in early primary states, and that's before his campaigning even begins in earnest. He might not even last as long in the 2028 primary as Kamala did in 2020.
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