His California Brand – RedState

Who goes to Michigan to construct the muse for a presidential run without contacting the state’s most outstanding elected officers and social gathering pooh-bahs?

Gavin Newsom, that’s who.

Of course, the California governor claims he was merely there to raise money for Democrat candidates; we all know that’s a load of horse manure.

But, he made some key errors that led to a “mixed reception” on the ground, Politico reviews. He did not attain out to Rep. Debbie Dingell, widow of legendary Michigan Democrat John Dingell; she believes Newsom knew that she, as a “car girl,” wasn’t fond of his stance on getting rid of gas-powered automobiles. If he did notice that, maybe he may perceive that he may need to take that place into consideration when trying to win a presidential major there.

Newsom did attempt to schedule a assembly with United Auto Workers (UAW) president Shawn Fain, again according to Politico, but it “didn’t materialize, according to a source familiar.” Fain is also a rumored potential 2028 candidate. Then, he snubbed Virgie Rollins, who heads the DNC’s Black Caucus:

“Every Democratic president that has won an election has been in my house,” Rollins told Playbook. “I did not hear from him. I did not get a call.”

He was compelled to cancel a fundraiser, too:

Some Michigander politicos identified that Newsom canceled a fundraiser with state AG nominee Eli Savit that included the controversial host Kelly Neumann, according to an invite obtained by POLITICO and circulated to some Democrats who didn’t notice the event was canceled when Newsom’s workforce was made conscious of Neumann’s background.

Newsom initially deliberate two competing fundraisers in Ann Arbor on Sunday, one for Savit and one for the state House Democrats. When the latter came upon about the Savit fundraiser they pulled out, citing a small Ann Arbor donor base. Neumann finally didn’t attend the previous, and didn’t reply to a request for remark.

He did, however, meet with Abdul El-Sayed and Elissa Slotkin. Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens, who lately misplaced the Senate major to El-Sayed, and who can truly join with regular people, was in California.

Like that of Kamala Harris before him, it is clear that Gavin Newsom’s California Democrat model of condescension is not well-liked in other states. He apparently did not be taught something from his tour of the South in 2023, when Politico then noticed:

[L]ike a California cabernet neglected on a humid afternoon, the Newsom model might not journey all that effectively. Montgomery is a long manner from Sacramento, and Newsom’s political machine has only been examined in pleasant territory, where his social gathering enjoys a supermajority. Many Democrats shall be glad to spend his money, but it’s far less clear that they’ll need his advice or his obsessive focus on the culture-war contrasts between Democratic and Republican states.

[T]his strategy bets that the message of a California governor — who made his fortune in wonderful wines and has deep ties to elite San Franciscans like Nancy Pelosi — can resonate elsewhere.

He was cringey enough to be handed over for the Dem nomination in 2024 after his aunt-by-marriage, Nancy Pelosi, metaphorically shivved Joe Biden off the top of the ticket, but in 2025, Newsom made strides in his national profile by combating Republican redistricting efforts across the nation, and by successful a constitutionally-questionable referendum to additional gerrymander California’s congressional districts. This put him back in rivalry for 2028.

This 12 months, he used a “book tour” as cowl to go to states like Nevada, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Georgia, but caught his foot in his mouth repeatedly. Remember this gem?

Gov. Newsom to a black crowd in GA: “I am like you. I’m a 960 SAT guy. I can’t read.” pic.twitter.com/4Gk0WKbIYz

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 23, 2026

Then, of course, there was his kneepad stunt at Davos, which was most likely also a dig at his frenemy, Kamala Harris.

🇺🇸🇨🇭 Gavin Newsom arrives at the World Economic Forum in Davos with “Trump-signature kneepads,” suggesting world leaders are grovelling to Donald Trump.

Follow: @europa pic.twitter.com/3OTDJe8Z3n

— Europa.com (@europa) January 22, 2026

That stunt also failed, principally because Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had a better insult prepared, saying from the stage, “Governor Newsom, who strikes me as Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken, may be the only Californian who knows less about economics than Kamala Harris.”

Scott Bessent on Gavin Newsom: “Governor Newsom, who strikes me as Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken, may be the only Californian who knows less about economics than Kamala Harris.” pic.twitter.com/7bWOuIsV1h

— Ryan Saavedra (@RyanSaavedra) January 21, 2026

As circumstances in California worsen, and are more and more recognized across the nation, Newsom’s clown show is less well-liked. Spencer Pratt noticed that the group of previous of us there to see Newsom at the annual BBQ hosted by Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel wasn’t very large.

Gavin Newsom pulling a large crowd of 17 septuagenarians in Michigan. Yeah he is DEFINITELY gonna be the nominee for President. LMAO. pic.twitter.com/GrLf3Ebc2X

— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) August 11, 2026

Of course, Newsom’s press workplace argued that it was a large crowd, demonstrating Newsom’s prowess as a candidate. This from the same people who are continually downplaying the dimensions of crowds there to see Donald Trump.

Newsom’s presently polling in the center of the pack in early major states, and that’s before his campaigning even begins in earnest. He won’t even last as long in the 2028 major as Kamala did in 2020.

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