Gavin Newsom reveals Covid regret as he teases 2028 presidential bid

Standing knee-deep in a Montana river while fishing with a TV news anchor, Gov.Gavin Newsom admitted “regret” that some of California’s COVID crackdowns went too far.Newsom’s pandemic mea culpa arrived as the term-limited Democrat is positioning himself for a potential 2028 presidential campaign — even though he told CNN’s Jake Tapper that he would stay out of the race if former Vice President Kamala Harris runs.In the sprawling conversation, Newsom conceded that some of California’s most sweeping pandemic restrictions appear difficult to defend with the benefit of hindsight.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story “The idea that we closed beaches was insane in hindsight,” Newsom said, adding the caveat that Florida Gov.

Ron DeSantis initially closed beaches in his state as public officials scrambled to understand the virus.Newsom also acknowledged that California’s largest public school systems remained closed too long, pointing specifically to Los Angeles Unified School District.“Obviously, the schools taking too long,” Newsom said.“A lot of districts were open, but the big ones weren’t.

L.A.refused, and I regret that.”Newsom was at the center of California’s pandemic response, issuing the nation’s first statewide stay-at-home order in March 2020 and using emergency powers to impose sweeping restrictions on businesses and everyday activity.  His administration later controlled the pace of reopening through a state-run tier system that tied restrictions to local COVID conditions, with most statewide limits remaining in place until California’s full reopening in June 2021.California’s in-person classroom shutdowns stretched deep into the 2020-21 school year, with Newsom’s administration imposing statewide health rules that pr...