california state government Gavin NewsomeEarly next month, his book tour will head to New Hampshire, traditionally the site of the nation’s first presidential primary in a century.

The Portsmouth Music Hall announced Thursday that California’s two-term Democratic governor will launch his new book, “Young People in a Hurry,” on March 5 at their theater.

What’s certain is that this stop along the New Hampshire coast will generate more buzz about Newsom’s national ambitions and the possibility of him running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 to succeed a term-limited president. Donald Trump.

Newsom’s standing within the party has soared over the past year, thanks to his verbal and visual pushback against the president, including his viral attacks on Trump on social media and his successful push for Republican congressional redistricting in California.

The race for the 2028 White House has begun

California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during an election night press conference at the California Democratic Party’s offices in Sacramento, California, Tuesday, November 4, 2025. (Godofredo Vazquez/AP Photo)

“Newsom has demonstrated an ability to stand up to Trump in a bold and effective way without shying away from core Democratic values,” veteran Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo told Fox News Digital.

Newsom was treated like a VIP as he held meetings and mingled with party representatives on opening day Democratic National CommitteeThe Democratic National Committee (DNC) winter meeting takes place in Los Angeles in December. Newsom held meetings with Democratic chairmen in New Hampshire and Nevada, another key early voting state.

“We had in-depth discussions on a wide range of issues,” the long-time New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley told Fox Digital News.

Democratic heavyweights draw attention, spark 2028 speculation

Newsom has acknowledged that he is considering a run for president, telling CBS News last year that he would “seriously consider it” after the 2026 midterm elections and that he would be “lying” if he said otherwise.

Newsom is one of more than a dozen Democrats seen as potential contenders for the White House in 2028. Many of them also visited New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, which are holding the first approved Democratic presidential primaries in the 2024 election cycle. Newsom made a stop in South Carolina last summer.

A New Hampshire Democratic strategist who requested anonymity to speak more freely said that for months he and other activists in the state have been receiving regular fundraising emails from some of the White House hopefuls.

“I get a dozen emails a week,” the strategist said.

Vance reinforces his 2026 message while offering key support for 2028

Kathy Sullivan, former chairwoman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party and a former member of the Democratic National Committee, told Fox News Digital that “successful candidates in New Hampshire started working here early and getting to know the activists. They identified what issues were important to the people of New Hampshire.”

Sullivan said early trips to New Hampshire by potential contenders “show they are taking the process seriously and know they have to work hard to win the primary.”

The California governor last visited New Hampshire in July 2024, when then-President Joe Biden endorsed Biden within days of his poor performance in the debate with Trump. Newsom was a top Biden surrogate and later became then-Vice President Kamala HarrisHe replaced Biden as the party’s standard-bearer after Biden gave up on re-election amid questions about his physical and mental stamina.

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, a top surrogate for then-President Joe Biden, stops to speak to voters at a highway rest area in Hooksett, New Hampshire, on July 8, 2024. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

Harris, a fellow Californian who is also currently on a book tour, is also considering a potential 2028 presidential run.

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Other Democrats considered possible presidential candidates include Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Wes Moore of Maryland, and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan; New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Arizona Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly, and Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy; progressive superstar representatives. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Rep. Ro Khanna of New York is another leading progressive; as well as two moderate Democrats, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and former White House chief of staff and ex-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.