California Governor Newsom denies eyeing 2024 presidential bid

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) denied this week that he is considering a 2024 presidential run, telling CBS Evening News that now is “not the moment.”

Speaking to Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett, Newsom claimed he has no interest in a future presidential bid, telling Garrett being POTUS is not his “ambition.” Asked whether he would ever run, Newsom told Garrett he had “no interest.”

“It’s not my ambition, and it’s not the direction that I’m leaning into,” Newsom said. “It’s not the moment.”

Newsom has sparked some rumors that he is headed for a POTUS campaign in 2024 by funding political ads in swing states encouraging voters not to vote for certain Republican candidates.

Newsom maintains his efforts have been aimed at keeping the US House of Representatives out of GOP control, saying he is fearful of a House controlled by Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Ca.) 

This is not the first time Newsom has denied any intent to run for president. At a festival in Austin in September, the governor was asked about a 2024 run and replied bluntly, “No, no, not at all. I’ve said it in French, Italian, I don’t know German, I can’t say it enough.”

Newsom has previously said he wants current US President Joe Biden to run again in 2024. Newsom is running for reelection in next week’s midterms, but is widely expected to win in a landslide against Republican challenger Brian Dahle.