Hollywood Giant Makes Massive Early Bet On 2028 Hopeful
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to officially announce a presidential campaign, but one of Hollywood’s most influential billionaires is already making it clear who he wants leading the Democratic Party in 2028…
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to officially announce a presidential campaign, but one of Hollywood’s most influential billionaires is already making it clear who he wants leading the Democratic Party in 2028.
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings is throwing his support behind Newsom, praising the California governor as a Democrat capable of energizing both progressive voters and moderates while positioning the party to reclaim the White House after President Donald Trump’s second term.
“Gavin is the candidate who can motivate both the left and the center,” Hastings told the Los Angeles Times, offering one of the clearest endorsements yet from a major Democratic donor ahead of what is expected to become a crowded 2028 primary race.
The comments come as Newsom continues to fuel speculation about his national ambitions without formally declaring a campaign. Over the past year, the governor has increased his national profile through aggressive media appearances, policy-focused speeches, and a cross-country book tour that has taken him through several key Democratic strongholds and potential primary battlegrounds.
He has also expanded fundraising efforts through his political organization, Campaign for Democracy, which has raised millions while helping support Democratic candidates and causes across the country. Critics and political observers alike have viewed the effort as an early framework for a presidential run.
Still, Newsom may face stiff competition from another California Democrat: former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Despite her failed 2024 presidential campaign, Harris remains the early favorite in several hypothetical Democratic primary polls. A YouGov survey conducted last month found Harris leading with 25% support among Democratic voters. Newsom followed with 12%, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg each polled at 9%.
Even so, there are growing signs that some major Democratic donors are looking beyond Harris and searching for a newer face to lead the party into the next election cycle.
“There is an enormous appetite for new blood — something fresh, something that really represents the future, not the past,” one anonymous Democratic fundraiser told the Los Angeles Times.