Gavin Newsom is surging in primary polls as he leans in to role as Trump's troll

[highplainsdem]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/gavin-newsom-primary-poll-trump-b2815276.html

Potential Democratic primary voters are increasingly energized about California Gov. Gavin Newsom, according to a new poll.

The surge in support comes as the Democrat has adopted a highly confrontational approach towards the Trump administration in recent weeks, mocking and parodying the president online while challenging Trump’s push to increase Republican seats through redistricting.

Newsom now counts 19 percent support among Democrats and Democrat-leaning independent potential primary voters, according to a Morning Consult poll released Tuesday.

The support represents a notable increase from Newsom’s five percent support among this group in March and 11 percent support in June.

-snip-

Harris is at 29%. Buttigieg and AOC are both at 6%.

[Nixie]

1. Yay! He's gaining everywhere. Exactly what we need.

No fear, just full blast through trump BS.

[Starbeach]

2. He's earning it

Relentless and creative and mad as hell.

[BannonsLiver]

3. Harris probably won't run.

If Newsom gets the redistricting thing passed in CA, and the party takes control of the House in the midterms, then I think that puts him in the pole position as the primaries begin. No guarantees, of course. But he would be in a very favorable position, being able to run on that accomplishment.

[ancianita]

5. Right.

He can run not only on that accomplishment but on the fact that he created a budget surplus in CA by taxing the rich who remain rich; also on the fact that he's governor of the 4th largest economy in the world, and
so much more that's done for Californians because of its economy can be done for America if he's president...

Reproductive freedom:
In response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Newsom launched the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, a coalition of governors, and signed over 25 bills to protect and expand access to reproductive health care in California.
Mental health reform:
Newsom championed Proposition 1 (2024), a ballot measure to modernize the state's mental health system by shifting funding toward housing and treatment for those with serious mental health and substance use disorders.
Criminal justice
Death penalty moratorium:
Early in his governorship, Newsom placed a statewide moratorium on the death penalty.
Prison reform:
Newsom's administration has moved to close multiple state prisons in response to a decline in the incarcerated population.
Police use of force:
Newsom signed a bill that set stricter standards for police use of deadly force.
Addressing Housing and homelessness:
Newsom has made significant investments to tackle the state's homelessness crisis, including Project Roomkey and Homekey, which converted vacant hotels into permanent supportive housing.
Promoting housing production:
Recent legislative reforms signed by Newsom are designed to cut red tape and accelerate housing and infrastructure projects across the state.

[hamsterjill]

7. Totally agree.

I don't think that Harris will run again, and I'm okay with that. She seems to have resigned herself to the fact that she can be helpful in other ways. My dream would be having her on the Supreme Court - probably not a real possibility, but I think she would be awesome.

Newsom projects strength and bravado, and I think THAT is important when going up against Republican bullies.

[calimary]

4. Gavin speaks, and trolls, for me!

[orangecrush]

6. The Anti Trump

He has my support

Dream ticket - Newsome and Pritzker

[TomSlick]

8. It's way early but I am interested in a Newsom candidacy.

My only criteria in primary will be who seems to have the best shot at winning.

[NoMoreRepugs]

9. Harris needs to step away now.

[TomSlick]

11. Why? If Vice President Harris wants to run, she should.

By my nature as a democrat and a Democrat, I believe any Democrat that thinks they are the best candidate should run. I am not smart enough to give Vice President political advice.

[Martin Eden]

10. Primary polls for WHICH election?

We're not talking about 2028 already, are we?

[Karasu]

12. Nobody should so much as be talking about 2028 when 2026 is in danger of being completely compromised before a single

vote is cast. If we continue our fascist descent at the same rate we've been going for the last 8 months, this country does NOT have that fucking long.

It's not even worth thinking about until we know for sure we'll have some semblance of a democracy left, which is far from assured, especially with so much time between now and then.

[Martin Eden]

13. Well said

We should NOT be talking about WHO in 2028.

We should be talking about WHAT needs to be done NOW.

Ideas and strategies, not personalities!

[Intractable]

14. The best way to deal with a dictator is mockery.

I believe that the only way to convert some of the MAGAs is through dark humor, making Trump look ridiculous.

Logical argument will not work on most MAGAs.

[live love laugh]

15. Republicans are not playing the old school "voting game" anymore.

[Paladin]

16. He's damn sure got my vote.

Way past time for such a decisive, articulate, courageous Democratic leader to cause political blood to spill on a national level. The rest of the party's leadership better step up, immediately.Newsom can't do it all on his own...

[GoodRaisin]

17. He deserves it.