Newsom heading to DC to ‘stand with’ Biden at high-stakes governors meeting

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is heading to Washington, D.C., to "stand with" President Joe Biden at a meeting with Democratic governors that could decide the party's presidential nominee this November.

Newsom will head to the capital on Wednesday "to stand with the President," a Newsom campaign spokesman told KCRA News. The news comes as murmurs of the California governor possibly taking over as the Democratic nominee in 2024 reach a fever pitch amid increasing pressure for Biden to drop out.

Though fully throwing his support behind Biden, Newsom has maintained a national profile, fueling rumors of a possible presidential run. He spoke against those questioning Biden the night after the presidential debate.

“I think it’s unhelpful, and I think it’s unnecessary,” Newsom said. “We’ve got to go in and keep our heads high, and as I say, we’ve got to have the back of this president.”

“You do not turn your back because of one performance,” the California Democrat continued. “What kind of party does that? It has been a master class, 15.6 million jobs … this president has delivered. We need to deliver for him at this moment.”

As of Tuesday, he was the fourth-most favored candidate to become president on the betting website PredictIt , behind former President Donald Trump, Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris. He was touted as the favorite of comedian Bill Maher .

Newsom is term-limited after 2026, having won two terms as governor of California.

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California Republicans have accused him of neglecting California in favor of "daydreaming" about a presidential run.

“Instead of daydreaming about the White House and scheming up new ways to take voters’ rights away, make California more expensive and make our streets less safe, Newsom should take a look in the mirror and realize he and the Democrats are the cause of countless hardships for Californians throughout our state,” California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson said.