How Gavin Newsom loses every primary state in 2028

The Democratic National Committee this weekend reshuffled the opening rounds of its 2028 presidential primary — and Gavin Newsom probably shouldn’t be celebrating.The new calendar sends Democratic presidential candidates through South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia before the race broadens on Super Tuesday in early March 2028.For Newsom, that’s quite an itinerary.In state after state, opponents will have a chance to take pieces of the California record he has spent seven years championing and introduce them to Democratic voters who may be considerably less enthusiastic.That matters because Newsom is no longer the bright, shiny object he was a year ago.He mastered the art of trolling Donald Trump when Trump was riding high.

He became a fixture on national television and even more dominant on social media, especially X, where sparring with the president became a daily political performance.But lately, national Democrats don’t seem nearly as excited about what Newsom is selling.A July Emerson poll put Pete Buttigieg first at 19%, Newsom second at 17%, with Jon Ossoff and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 13%.In New Hampshire, AOC led at 22%, one point ahead of Buttigieg.Trump’s approval ratings have fallen, too.

Attacking an unpopular Trump isn’t much of a specialty act anymore.Plenty of Democrats can do it.If Newsom had any influence over the new calendar, it sure doesn’t show.January 22 — South CarolinaNewsom starts where Democratic voters are less progressive on transgender issues than California.A Winthrop University poll found 54% of South Carolina Democrats favored requiring transgender athletes to compete according to their sex at birth.California still allows biological males who identify as female to compete in girls’ sports.

When that produces an unfair result, Newsom embraced a workaround adding qualifying spots or medals for displaced female athletes.He also signed legislation protecting access to sex-chang...