Kamala Harris’s Former Boyfriend Predicts Gavin Newsom Would Beat Her in 2028

Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown is throwing cold water on Kamala Harris’ possible 2028 comeback — and he is not being subtle.

Brown, 92, said California Gov. Gavin Newsom would likely have the upper hand if he and Harris both jumped into the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, arguing that Democrats may be more eager to rally behind someone with a winning record than someone still carrying the weight of a national loss.

Harris, 61, has reportedly been weighing another run for the White House after losing the 2024 election to Donald Trump. But Brown, who once dated Harris and has long been seen as a major figure in California Democratic politics, suggested Newsom, 58, could be the stronger contender because he would not be “the most recent loser.” ABC News reported that Harris has said she is “thinking about” a 2028 presidential bid, even as some former allies remain uneasy about another campaign. (ABC News)

Speaking to ABC News, Brown said Democrats usually want to back a proven winner.

“When you embrace somebody for the job, you really want to embrace a winner,” Brown said, adding that Newsom “would be what you would have to say at the moment is a winner.”

Brown also said he was surprised Harris did not run to succeed Newsom as California governor, arguing that the move could have put her in a much stronger position for another national campaign.

“I would have advised her to be elected governor, so that she would be in the same identical position, if not better than for electability nationally than Newsom,” Brown said.

He added that if Harris were set to become California governor on January 8, 2027, “the dialogue would be about her candidacy, not about anybody else’s.”

The remarks mark a notable shift for Brown, who previously suggested Harris might struggle if she ran for governor. In a CNN interview last year, Brown said it would be “difficult for her to win that job” and questioned whether the governor’s mansion was the right next step for her.

The possible Harris-Newsom showdown has become one of the most closely watched Democratic dramas ahead of 2028. The Wall Street Journal recently described the two California Democrats as longtime allies and rivals who have moved through the same political circles for more than two decades, with Democratic strategist Garry South saying they have been like “two cats, circling each other in an alley” politically. (The Wall Street Journal)

Both Harris and Newsom rose out of San Francisco politics, and both are viewed as potential national contenders. But their relationship has long been shadowed by rivalry, shared donors, overlapping advisers and speculation about who would inherit the future of the Democratic Party.

Harris and Brown’s past relationship has also remained a flashpoint in her political story. The two dated in the mid-1990s, when Harris was in her late 20s and Brown was a powerful California political figure. Brown was then speaker of the California Assembly and later became mayor of San Francisco.

Their relationship was no secret at the time. The San Francisco Chronicle described Harris as Brown’s “new steady,” while the Los Angeles Times called her his “frequent companion.”

Brown has publicly acknowledged that he helped Harris early in her career. In 2019, he said they dated and admitted he “may have influenced her career” by appointing her to two state commissions while he was Assembly speaker. He also said he helped with her first race for San Francisco district attorney.

Now, years later, Brown is once again weighing in on Harris’ future — and his latest warning could sting.

For Harris, another White House run would mean convincing Democrats that her 2024 defeat does not define her political future. For Newsom, a 2028 campaign would mean stepping out of California and proving he can win over a national Democratic electorate.

But if Brown is right, the Democratic Party may be looking for a fresh winner — and that could leave Harris facing one of the toughest fights of her career.