California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he would not run for president in 2028 if former Vice President Kamala Harris decides to enter the race, offering his clearest indication yet that her plans could affect his own presidential ambitions.

In an interview with CNN, Newsom was asked about the possibility of competing against Harris for the Democratic nomination. He said he does not know whether Harris will run but made clear that he would step aside if she does.

“I don't know if she runs, but we'll see. But I wouldn't run if she ran. Why would I? I wouldn't do that to her. I wouldn't do that to you. I wouldn't waste everyone's time,” Newsom said.

Newsom has been viewed as one of the more prominent potential Democratic contenders for 2028, and he has repeatedly faced questions about whether he intends to seek the White House after leaving the California governor’s office. He is term-limited and cannot seek another term as governor in 2026.

Harris, meanwhile, has not announced any future campaign plans. She has continued to leave the possibility open, saying earlier this year that she was considering another presidential bid. Her decision has therefore become an important factor in how other potential Democratic candidates approach the emerging 2028 field.

Newsom and Harris are both from California and have overlapping political networks, although their careers have taken different paths. Harris served as California attorney general and later as the state’s U.S. senator before becoming vice president under Joe Biden. Meanwhile, Newsom has served as governor since 2019.

Newsom’s comments do not rule out a presidential campaign altogether. Instead, he specifically tied his decision to whether Harris enters the race, leaving open the possibility that he could seek the Democratic nomination if she chooses not to run.

The comments come as potential Democratic contenders begin positioning themselves for the 2028 presidential cycle, even though the field remains unsettled and no nomination contest has formally begun.