Newsom Blasts Democrats' Climate Silence, Predicts AOC 2028 Run and Trump's November Downfall
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Sep 24
Newsom Blasts Democrats' Climate Silence, Predicts AOC 2028 Run and Trump's November Downfall
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 24
Summary
Gavin Newsom said Democrats have gone quiet on climate since Trump returned in 2025, even though 74% of Americans and 80% to 89% globally want stronger climate action.
He argued the party is failing to tie climate change to household costs—linking droughts, heat and floods to beef, coffee, insurance and housing—and said Biden-era climate wins were poorly sold.
Newsom pointed to California as proof the message can work, saying large-scale batteries helped the state run on 100% clean electricity nine out of every 10 days in 2026.
On politics, he predicted November's midterms could mark "the end of Donald Trump's presidency as we know it" if turnout is too large to contest, and said courts and Congress must defend the rule of law if Trump challenges results.
Looking to 2028, Newsom said Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez "absolutely could" win the Democratic nomination and left open his own run, while repeating he would not challenge Kamala Harris.