Commentary: Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris have traveled parallel paths. Will they collide in 2028?

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Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris have long circled one another.The two moved in the same political slipstream, wooed the same set of Democratic donors and, for a time, even shared the same group of campaign advisors.Harris rose from San Francisco district attorney to elected positions in Sacramento and Washington before twice running unsuccessfully for president.Newsom climbed from San Francisco mayor to lieutenant governor to California’s governorship, where he quietly stewed as Harris leapfrogged past him into the vice presidency.While she served in the White House, Newsom tried any number of ways to insinuate himself into the national spotlight.Now both have at least one eye on the Oval Office, setting up a potential clash of egos and ambition that’s been decades in the making.Newsom, whose term as governor expires in January, has been auditioning for president from practically the moment the polls closed in 2024 and horrified Democrats realized Harris had lost to Donald Trump.

Harris, who’s mostly focused on writing and promoting her campaign autobiography — while giving a political speech here and there — hasn’t publicly declared she’ll seek the White House a third time.But, notably, she has yet to rule out the possibility.Times columnist and Newsom skeptic Mark Z.

Barabak doubts the California governor’s chances in 2028.Veteran Democratic strategist Garry South believes Newsom has a strong shot.

The two hash it out.In a CNN interview aired Sunday, Newsom was asked about the prospect of facing his longtime frenemy in a fight for the Democratic nomination.(California’s gallivanting governor is embarked on his own national book tour, promoting both the “memoir of discovery” that was published Tuesday and his all-but-declared presidential bid.)“Well, I’m San Francisco now, she’s L.A.,” Newsom joked, referring to Harris’ post-Washington residency...