Gov. Gavin Newsom is heading east to headline a splashy fundraiser for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in New York ahead of the vice president's first debate with former President Trump on Tuesday in Philadelphia, which he is likely to attend.
The governor will promote Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, from Sunday through Wednesday, according to a member of Newsom’s political team, making media appearances and attending fundraisers in New York and campaigning for the Democratic nomination in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
Newsom is returning to campaigning for the Democratic nominee after having kept a low profile in the weeks after Harris replaced President Biden at the top of the ticket. Newsom was a prominent defender of Biden, campaigning for him across the country and defending him after his poor performance in the June debate that ultimately led the incumbent to withdraw from his reelection campaign.
But his role in Harris’ campaign was unclear. Harris campaign officials said Saturday that Newsom is one of the leaders of Harris’ national campaign committee, the same role he played in Biden’s campaign.
Harris and Newsom have a long history, having served in the same political circles in San Francisco before being sworn in together on the same day in 2004, Newsom as mayor and Harris as district attorney.
The vice president recalled their friendship at her first Bay Area fundraiser after becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee in August.
“I have known Gavin as a friend and colleague for many, many years,” he said. “I want to thank him in front of all of our friends here for being an extraordinary leader for California and the nation.”
Still, a streak of competition has marked their relationship for many years, as both were seen as rising stars in the Democratic Party. This was particularly noticeable during the Democratic National Convention last month: Newsom attended, but without a prominent official role.
The normally spotlight-seeking governor had only a brief moment on camera during the official programming when he announced California delegate votes for Harris. He said he turned down a chance to speak on the convention’s opening night because he was attending a school orientation for his children and couldn’t get to Chicago in time.
Newsom told The Times in an interview during the convention that he was expecting an assignment from Harris’ campaign and was mindful of how the rest of the nation views San Francisco and California.
“I am very aware of this and that is why I do not claim anything,” he said. “I am happy. I do not need or want anything. I just want to be useful and not cause harm.”
One way Newsom is helping is by raising money. An invitation to Sunday’s fundraiser in New York City asks donors to contribute up to $100,000 to attend the event headlined by Newsom, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Hosts include producer Shonda Rhimes and actors Tony Goldwyn, Robert De Niro, Leslie Lloyd Odom Jr. and Amber Tamblyn.
The fundraising comes at a time when campaign disclosures show Harris has a wide financial lead over Trump. The Democratic nominee’s campaign announced Friday that she, Walz and their allied committees had raised $361 million in August, the most in the current election cycle, and had $404 million in cash on hand.
Trump, his running mate J.D. Vance and their allied committees raised $130 million in August and had $295 million in the bank, according to Republicans. The Republican former president is scheduled to return to California this week for a pair of high-dollar fundraisers, one of them hosted by relatives of Newsom’s wife, according to invitations obtained by The Times.
After New York, Newsom is scheduled to visit Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, Harris will debate Trump at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Her advisers referred questions about her debate attendance to Harris’ campaign, which did not respond to The Times’ inquiry.
A source familiar with the plans, though not authorized to speak about them publicly, said Newsom is “widely expected” to attend the showdown as a surrogate openly promoting Harris in her historic race against Trump.
