California Governor Gavin Newsom is set to visit South Carolina this week, teaming up with the state’s Democratic Party for a two-day tour beginning Tuesday.
The visit has already drawn strong responses from South Carolina Republicans, who say they are preparing to give Newsom “a HUGE Southern welcome” as he enters a state that has long leaned heavily conservative.
Newsom’s trip includes multiple stops across the state—ranging from cafes and community centers to churches—as part of the South Carolina Democratic Party’s initiative to engage with local voters.
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The state held the first official primary in the Democratic Party’s 2024 calendar and is expected to play a key role again in future elections.
While Newsom is currently term-limited in California, his national profile and continued travel to early-voting states have fueled ongoing speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run.
The South Carolina visit, which will include both public and private meetings with voters and party officials, has only added to that speculation.
“Gavin Newsom is bringing his Crazy California agenda to Trump Country. It’s up to us to show him what real leadership looks like,” the South Carolina Republican Party said in an email to supporters.
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The email also listed the locations and times of Newsom’s scheduled appearances, encouraging supporters to turn out in full force.
“Show up loud, proud, and decked out in your Trump gear and flags,” the party urged.
. @GavinNewsom is bringing his Crazy California agenda to South Carolina.
U-Haul’s 2024 report says it all: people are leaving California and heading here.
He’s following the trucks — but we’re not buying what he’s selling. https://t.co/Syne3EcDRB pic.twitter.com/al4IqzPd84
— South Carolina Republican Party (@SCGOP) July 7, 2025
State Republican officials echoed the party’s message. South Carolina GOP Chair Drew McKissick stated, “Gavin Newsom should go sell Crazy California somewhere else. He won’t find many takers here.”
Attorney General Alan Wilson, who launched a Republican campaign for governor in 2026, issued a separate statement: “We don’t need Gavin Newsom’s twisted version of America in the Palmetto State. If Gavin Newsom wants to test his national message here, he’ll be met by a united conservative front that knows exactly what’s at stake.”
Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who is considering a gubernatorial bid in 2026, challenged the California governor to a direct confrontation.
“If Governor Newsom wants to bring California politics to South Carolina, he should be ready to defend his record, face to face,” Mace said.
In response, the South Carolina Democratic Party framed Newsom’s trip as part of a broader effort to connect national leaders with communities that have been, in their view, neglected by Republican leadership.
“Governor Newsom leads the largest economy in America and the fourth largest in the world, and he’s coming to meet folks in towns that have been hollowed out by decades of Republican control,” South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain said.
Newsom previously visited South Carolina in January 2024 to campaign on behalf of then-President Joe Biden during the state’s Democratic presidential primary.
That trip was part of a broader effort that also included visits to Nevada and New Hampshire, all early-voting states.
Biden ultimately dropped out of the 2024 race in July after a widely criticized debate performance against now-President Donald Trump.
Kamala Harris replaced Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket.
With 2028 on the horizon, states like South Carolina, Nevada, and New Hampshire are all competing for early positions in the next Democratic primary calendar.
The Democratic National Committee is expected to finalize the 2028 calendar by early 2027.
Newsom’s two-day tour through South Carolina is expected to provide an opportunity for the governor to build relationships with voters and local Democratic leaders.
As one of several Democrats rumored to be considering a 2028 run for the White House, the connections forged during this trip may prove politically valuable in the years ahead.
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