Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) would be a “great” president, as many potential 2028 Democratic contenders attend the Munich Security Conference.
Newsom is attending the conference along with other possible Democratic contenders, including Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI).
“Yes, I think he’d make a great president,” Pelosi said when asked if Newsom would make a good president. “I think we also have a great bench, and we have a lot of good candidates.”
Pelosi told Politico that Democrats are in Munich to tell world leaders that relationships with the United States will be different when the Democratic Party is back in power after the midterm elections.
“We’re getting out there to do three things, “ she said. “One, to win the House, which we will. Two, to protect the elections, to give everybody confidence that we will win the House … and the third thing is to tell them how different things will be when [House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)] gets that gavel.”
Politico asked Pelosi if she is concerned about Democrats gaining back control of the House, to which she said she doesn’t “worry.”
“I don’t worry, we act,” she said. “We don’t agonize, we organize.”
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Throughout the conference, multiple Democratic lawmakers have been questioned about future presidential runs.
Newsom also told CNN that he is attending the conference to remind world leaders that President Donald Trump is “temporary.”
“Well, I‘m here in many respects to remind everyone that Trump is temporary. He‘ll be gone in a matter of years,” he said. “States like California are permanent. We’re reliable, stable partners.”
When asked if he thought world leaders were “treating” him as the next president, he said, “I don‘t know about that.”
Newsom said he “honestly” doesn’t know if he will run for president in 2028. “I really don’t, but I am trying to be accountable to the world I‘m living in. I don’t want to live with any regrets,” he said. “I don‘t want to say I could or would or should have been on some panel, or go on your show as one of those you know, ex-politicians. I‘m putting it all on the line.”
“I want to run the 110-yard dash as governor,” he added.
Kelly told CNN that he hasn’t decided yet about 2028 and said he is at the conference because he “likes this kind of stuff,” and feels he can “offer a lot” due to his military background.
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Ocasio-Cortez dodged a question on a potential 2028 presidential run while also at the conference. She was asked whether she would impose a wealth or billionaire’s tax if she runs for president.
“We don’t have to wait for any one president to impose a wealth tax. I think that it needs to be done expeditiously,” she said, avoiding the question.