Governor Gavin Newsom is heading to New York to help raise funds for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. He’ll attend a high-profile fundraiser ahead of Harris’ first debate with former President Donald Trump in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Newsom will also support Harris and vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, making media appearances and attending events from Sunday to Wednesday. He’ll campaign in New York and Pennsylvania, a key battleground state.
After staying out of the spotlight for a few weeks, Newsom is now back to actively campaigning. Previously, he supported President Biden before Harris took his place at the top of the ticket. Newsom had been a vocal supporter of Biden, even after his poor debate performance in June, which led Biden to end his reelection bid.
Newsom’s role in Harris’ campaign had been unclear, but Harris’ team confirmed that he is a leader on her national campaign committee, the same role he had with Biden.
Harris and Newsom share a long history, both starting their political careers in San Francisco. They were sworn in together in 2004, with Newsom as mayor and Harris as district attorney. Their friendship remains strong, although there has been some friendly competition between them as they both rose in the Democratic Party.
At last month’s Democratic National Convention, Newsom had only a minor role, announcing California’s delegate votes for Harris. He declined a chance to speak on the opening night due to a family commitment. He told reporters that he’s happy to support Harris in any way he can, without needing a major role.
One way Newsom is helping is by raising funds. The New York fundraiser features a star-studded guest list, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, actors Robert De Niro and Tony Goldwyn, and producer Shonda Rhimes. Tickets cost up to $100,000.
Harris’ campaign is doing well financially, raising $361 million in August, far ahead of Trump’s $130 million. Trump is also holding fundraisers in California this week, including one hosted by relatives of Newsom’s wife.
After New York, Newsom will head to Pennsylvania. While it’s unclear if he will attend the debate in person, many expect him to be there as a vocal supporter of Harris in her historic campaign.