Gavin Newsom says he didn’t realize it was Kamala Harris calling.
The California governor responded Friday to a passage from Harris’ explosive new book detailing how she scrambled to reach prominent Democrats in the hours after President Joe Biden exited the presidential contest — including Newsom, whom Harris said was unreachable.
“Hiking. Will call back,” the former vice president wrote in her notes from her calls that day, which are recounted in her campaign memoir “107 Days.” She pointedly noted in parenthesis: “He never did.”
Newsom told reporters in San Francisco that he was racing to understand the situation when an unknown number popped up on his phone. He said he would later realize it was Harris, whose career has advanced in parallel with his as they rose through San Francisco and California politics.
“There was an unknown number,” Newsom said. “Meanwhile, I was on a text chain, trying to get in touch with the Biden administration, because I was completely surprised that the president dropped out.”
Within hours, Newsom — who had been a stalwart Biden surrogate — publicly endorsed Harris, as other prominent Democrats swiftly did. On Friday, he called the episode “trivial,” but also added that he had been working on his endorsement when Harris called.
“That exact same moment, was working with my team to draft a statement,” he said. “I assume that’s in the book as well.” Harris did not mention Newsom’s endorsement in the book.
The two could still be on a collision course. Harris has not ruled out a White House run in 2028, while Newsom is likely to seek the presidency after term limits force him out of the governor’s office in 2026.
