Governor Gavin Newsom is making a return trip to New Hampshire this weekend, likely to lend a hand to Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections and possibly to secure some early backing in a critical primary state for his anticipated 2028 presidential bid.
This visit follows his earlier trip in March, where he promoted his memoir. Now, he plans to engage in various campaign activities throughout New Hampshire on Saturday, combining rallies for voters with fundraising efforts in a state that plays a pivotal role in shaping the presidential race.
One of his planned stops includes Exeter, where he will accompany Representative Chris Pappas, a New Hampshire congressman and candidate for the U.S. Senate.
New Hampshire is just the latest destination in a busy year for Newsom, who has traveled extensively, from campaigns in the South to meetings with influential figures globally.
This year alone, he attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Munich Security Conference, and made a trip to London to establish a clean-energy partnership with the UK.
The costs for his European visits, which total around $57,000 for travel, accommodations, and meals, were covered by the California State Protocol Foundation, a nonprofit that relies on contributions from affluent donors and companies.
Newsom has also been active in the Southern campaign circuit. In September, he visited Alabama, South Carolina, and North Carolina, marking his seventh trip to the South in three years. His team presented this tour as a strategy to support Democrats during the midterms but also as a way to network in South Carolina, an essential state for the 2028 presidential primary schedule.
His memoir, “Young Man in a Hurry,” created significant opportunities for him to step outside California, featuring a national promotional tour that included stops in Nashville, Boston, and New York. This involved over $1.5 million spent on book purchases and renting venues for these events—an expensive, yet clever move to reach potential future voters while adding “bestselling author” to his profile.
New Hampshire maintains its importance as an early testing ground for presidential hopefuls, especially after the Democratic National Committee designated it as the third state in the primary lineup, following South Carolina and Nevada. Earlier this year, he also visited Nevada during different months.
Newsom’s campaign efforts have already made a mark in New Hampshire, with his team reporting more than $526,000 in contributions directed to local Democrats this election cycle, thanks to over 23,500 donations. The recipients include the state party, Congressman Pappas, and congressional candidate Stefany Shaheen.
Nationally, he has rallied more than $6.5 million for Democratic candidates this cycle, according to his team.
In Nashua, he’ll join Pappas and candidate Cinde Warmington for a voter outreach launch at a Democratic field office that he previously supported through an email campaign.
While Newsom’s visit is cultivated as a strategy to assist Democrats in next month’s midterms, reports suggest that Kamala Harris’s comeback efforts may not be going as planned with some of her long-term supporters.
Comments from Doug Herman, a former strategist for Barack Obama’s campaigns, reflect this sentiment: “She totally blew it. She hasn’t gotten into the mix,” he remarked.
Despite having previously stated that he wouldn’t run against Harris if she opts for another presidential run, Newsom appears to be demonstrating his own presidential interests quite openly, and his upcoming weekend activities could significantly influence voters in New Hampshire.
