California Governor Gavin Newsom is running a new wave of fundraising ads that are targeting audiences across the country, not just in his home state. The strategy has fueled speculation that the Democrat is laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential run.
The online ads, launched this month, are tied to Newsom’s push for a California ballot proposition on redistricting. The move comes as a direct response to Republican-led efforts in Texas, where redistricting battles have taken center stage.
In one of the ads, Newsom frames the effort as a fight against former President Donald Trump and national Republicans. “We’re not gonna watch Donald Trump rig the next election, we’re not just gonna sit back and watch what’s happening in Texas and not respond to it,” he says. “It’s time to fight fire with fire. We’re going to the ballot. We’re going to redistrict here in the state of California but we’re going to need your help.”
According to Google’s ad transparency center, Newsom’s team created different versions of the spots—one targeted at Californians and another aimed specifically at viewers outside the state. Another ad described the campaign as addressing “an emergency for our democracy.”
By running ads nationally, Newsom could be building a donor base and expanding his profile with small-dollar contributors. Such support would be critical in a future presidential primary, where candidates rely on national networks to compete.
A spokeswoman for the legislative effort, Hannah Milgrom, rejected suggestions that the ads were designed to assemble a national donor list ahead of 2028. “Total BS,” Milgrom said. She added, “Americans rightfully oppose Trump’s attempt to rig the 2026 midterm elections and steal five house seats before a single person has voted. That’s why tens of thousands of small dollar donors across the country are giving $5 and $10 dollars to our campaign through these ads.”
Still, the structure of the campaign has intensified speculation. Political analysts note that small-dollar donors are often the foundation of presidential campaigns, and rivals such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders already have sizable lists of supporters.
Beyond the ads, Newsom has also made appearances in South Carolina, a key early state in the Democratic primary process. Those moves have only added to chatter that he is preparing for a White House bid.
On the betting website Polymarket, Newsom currently ranks as the leading Democratic contender for 2028 with a 24% chance of securing the party’s nomination. That places him ahead of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Recent polling shows Newsom as the second-most popular Democratic figure behind Vice President Kamala Harris, but ahead of Ocasio-Cortez and Buttigieg.