‘Very Complicated’: CNN Dives Into How Frenemies Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom Might Face Off in 2028

Both California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and former Vice President Kamala Harris have indicated in recent interviews that they’re considering running for president in 2028, and a CNN segment on Thursday hinted at their complicated relationship.

The Washington Post‘s Maeve Reston described the “complicated” relationship between the two top contenders during an appearance on CNN’s Inside Politics with Dana Bash on Thursday.

“It’s clear from all of the people in her inner circle that she’s keeping all of her options open,” Reston said of Harris. “There’s a lot of different things that she wants to do. There’s absolutely no reason for her to take herself out of the running at this point.”

Harris told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that she’s “not done” in public life, although she wasn’t more specific.

“I have lived, my entire career, a life of service. And it’s in my bones. And there are many ways to serve. I’ve not decided yet what I will do in the future beyond what I am doing right now,” said Harris.

Reston mentioned Newsom’s fundraising prowess and California’s Prop 50 initiative, the Newsom campaign to allow for the temporary use of new congressional district map in the Golden State through 2030. California Democrats have called it “a direct response to a Republican power grab orchestrated by President [Donald] Trump and state leaders in Texas, who redrew Congressional districts.”

Reston continued:

And, of course, it would be very complicated because Gov. Newsom would be one of the potential top candidates, and they’ve had this “frenemy” relationship for years and years and have always been in close contention on so many things. But they now also will have probably the two top donor lists in politics. After this initiative coming up, Gavin Newsom has raised tons of money from contributors in all 50 states and has a massive list now, as does Kamala Harris. And so it would be fascinating to see that competition play out again.

CNN’s Elex Michaelson added, “And they’ve had the same consultants for years, so they know a lot of the good and the bad about each other.”

“Yeah, it’s kind of dangerous in many, many ways,” Bash said.

Watch the clip above via CNN.