California Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging Democrats to adopt a more aggressive political strategy against President Donald Trump, telling supporters in New Hampshire that his party must become more “ruthless” as he weighs a potential 2028 presidential campaign.

“The right is ruthless. Trump is ruthless,” Newsom said at a field office in Nashua over the weekend. “I'm sorry. We need to be a little more ruthless.”

Newsom’s visit to New Hampshire was intended to support Democratic candidates in competitive House and Senate races, but his attacks on Trump and defense of his own record also offered a glimpse of how he might approach a presidential campaign. He is betting that opposition to the president will remain a central force among Democratic voters and that his willingness to confront Trump will distinguish him from other potential contenders.

The California governor has become one of Trump’s most prominent Democratic opponents, frequently trading insults with the president and challenging his administration over federal deployments, legal disputes and other matters involving California. Trump has repeatedly attacked Newsom, using the nickname “Newscum” and calling for his arrest, while Newsom has responded with mockery on social media.

At a town hall in Exeter, Newsom described California as the “most un-Trump state in the United States of America,” adding, “I say that with deep pride and privilege.”

However, Newsom’s California record could complicate his efforts to appeal to voters outside the state. California’s liberal political identity and reputation for high taxes and expansive government policies could become liabilities in a Democratic primary, particularly among voters wary of candidates associated with the state’s political establishment.

Denise Rudman, a retired high school teacher from Manchester, said she admired Newsom but questioned whether his California background would resonate nationally.

“I mean, I love him. I think he's wonderful,” Rudman said. “There's just something about, you know, 'liberals from California,' and I'm sure a lot of people feel the same way.”

Newsom has sought to portray himself as both a forceful opponent of Trump and someone willing to work with the administration when necessary. He has pointed to cooperation over federal assistance following the Palisades wildfire, saying he has “always had an open hand, not a closed fist,” despite his public clashes with the president.

During his New Hampshire appearances, Newsom also urged Democrats to regain control of the House of Representatives in November, portraying the midterm elections as a decisive test of Trump’s agenda.

“There will not be a fair and free election in the United States of America if we don't take back the House of Representatives this year,” Newsom said.

Newsom’s national profile has placed him among the leading potential Democratic presidential contenders in polling cited by the Washington Examiner, although former Vice President Kamala Harris, the party’s 2024 nominee, was positioned ahead of him in those surveys.

Other Democrats could also compete for the nomination, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who finished second in New Hampshire’s 2020 Democratic presidential primary, and progressive figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rep. Ro Khanna of California.

When asked what Democrats should emphasize after the midterms, Newsom pointed to economic concerns, calling for efforts to “democratize our economy” and address the concentration of wealth and power. He defended his gubernatorial record by citing paid family leave and a higher minimum wage as examples of Democratic policies delivering results